Initial Assessment
This is the first and most critical component of the primary survey in a trauma patient.
What is Airway with C-spine stabilization?
This simple maneuver can often open the airway in an unconscious patient without C-spine injury.
What is a head-tilt chin-lift?
This is the most common cause of shock in a trauma patient.
What is hypovolemic shock (hemorrhagic shock)?
This widely used scoring system assesses a patient's level of consciousness based on eye-opening, verbal response, and motor response
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
This diagnostic imaging study is often the first-line investigation for identifying free fluid in the abdomen or pericardium in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients.
What is a FAST exam (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma)?
This mnemonics helps recall the components of the primary survey.
What is ABCDE?
This airway maneuver is preferred in a trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury.
What is a jaw thrust?
What type of intravenous fluid is typically initiated first for fluid resuscitation in a hemorrhaging trauma patient?
What are warmed crystalloids (normal saline or lactated Ringer's)?
Dilated and fixed pupils bilateral are a grave sign suggesting this type of neurological injury.
What is uncal herniation or severe brain injury?
The "golden hour" in trauma refers to this critical time frame.
What is the first 60 minutes after injury?
This information should be gathered rapidly during the initial assessment, including mechanism of injury.
What is a brief history (AMPLE or SAMPLE)?
Auscultating for diminished or absent breath sounds on one side could indicate this life-threatening thoracic injury.
What is a pneumothorax or hemothorax?
A rapid, thready pulse, cool, clammy skin, and prolonged capillary refill time are all signs of this circulatory compromise.
What is hypoperfusion/shock?
After assessing disability, what is the crucial next step to prevent hypothermia in a trauma patient?
What is exposing the patient completely for examination then warming them and covering them?
This type of injury, such as a stab or gunshot wound, is characterized by a break in skin integrity.
What is penetrating trauma?
While performing the primary survey, this vital action should be happening simultaneously to ensure patient safety.
What is C-spine immobilization/protection?
This tension-inducing condition, if left untreated, can rapidly compromise circulation and is characterized by tracheal deviation and distended neck veins.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
This intervention involves transfusing blood products in a specific ratio to mimic whole blood in massively bleeding patients.
What is massive transfusion protocol (MTP)?
This rapid neurological assessment tool checks for Alert, Verbal, Pain, and Unresponsive.
What is AVPU?
What is the most common cause of preventable death in trauma patients in the ED?
What is uncontrolled hemorrhage?
You've just received a patient with a GCS of 6. What's your immediate priority regarding initial assessment?
What is securing the airway (intubation)?
A patient presents with paradoxical chest wall movement. This is a hallmark sign of what injury?
What is a flail chest?
You've identified significant external bleeding. Your immediate priority is to apply this to control the hemorrhage.
What is direct pressure (or a tourniquet if direct pressure is ineffective and the extremity is severely injured)?
During exposure, you notice a large ecchymosis over the flank. This could indicate injury to which organ system?
What is the retroperitoneum (kidneys, pancreas, major vessels)?
This "deadly triad" refers to the combination of what? And is often seen in severely injured patients.
What is hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy "trauma triad of death"?