We were talking about how we could handle medical emergency in dental clinic. We have seen team work during emergency till now and ABCDE method to handle the emergency.
Now, we will talk about recovery position after primary survey.
Airway is used to be in risk in any unconscious patient. Regurgitated gastric content, debris in mouth, loose denture or mechanical obstruction due to tongue and epiglottis can compromise airway.
Recovery position is told so that airway remains patent and there are no interruptions in airway.
INDICATION
Recovery position can be given in any unconscious patient when we become sure that there is no problem in airway, breathing and circulation.
We should lay the patient in recovery position till then when he is not well up to the conscious level. Like – in hypoglycemic coma after seizure.
What is recovery position?
In recovery position, the patient is laid in a crooked position.
By the way, whether you lay the patient in right or left but left is considered better.
If possible, the patient should lie on the open flood but if you have to make him lie on dental chair then put his face towards spittoon.
Let’s see actual procedure.
Remove the specs or any other bulky items of the patient.
Make sure the legs of the patient should be straight.
Now, take the left hand of the patient and raise it with palm facing upwards but there is no place in dental chair to keep palm so make the left hand such that it is not pressed.
Now take the right hand of the patient keep it other side and hold it.
Now, lift the right leg and make the patient roll on the left side.
If the right leg of the patient is on the floor then the leg should be at 90degree of the body of the patient.
Make the head of the patient tilt so that airway could remain open.
Stretch the hands of the patient so that head could remain tilted.
And lastly keep monitoring vital signs.