SUMMARY ATLS EXAMINATION ATLS Chapters 1-3

Patients with a GSC of less than ___ usually require intubation. 8 The "A" in ABCD stands for _______. Airway maintenance with CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an altered level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavicle has what type of injury? Cervical spine injury Flail chest is invariably accompanied by ______ which can interfere with blood oxygenation. pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate these patients! Hypotension is caused by _____ until proven otherwise. hypovolemia When you don't have/can't get a blood pressure, what are three things to look for when evaluating perfusion. 1. Level of consciousness (brain perfusion), 2. Skin color (ashen face/grey extremities) 3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy) Elderly patients have a limited ability