Medical emergency team syndromes and an approach to their management.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Most literature on the medical emergency team (MET) relates to its effects on patient outcome. Less information exists on the most common causes of MET calls or on possible approaches to their management.

Methods

We reviewed the calling criteria and clinical causes of 400 MET calls in a teaching hospital. We propose a set of minimum standards for managing a MET review and developed an approach for managing common problems encountered during MET calls.

Results

The underlying reasons for initiating MET calls were hypoxia (41%), hypotension (28%), altered conscious state (23%), tachycardia (19%), increased respiratory rate (14%) and oliguria (8%). Infection, pulmonary oedema, and arrhythmias featured as prominent causes of all triggers for MET calls. The pro

SUBMITTER: Jones D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1550805 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature