Flashcard ATLS questions and answers

Patients with a GSC of less than ___ usually require intubation. CORRECT ANSWERS: 8 The "A" in ABCD stands for _______. CORRECT ANSWERS: 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? CORRECT ANSWERS: Cervical spine injury Flail chest is invariably accompanied by ______ which can interfere with blood oxygenation. CORRECT ANSWERS: pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate these patients! Hypotension is caused by _____ until proven otherwise. CORRECT ANSWERS: hypovolemia When you don't have/can't get a blood pressure, what are three things to look for when evaluating perfusion. CORRECT ANSWERS: 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 to ______ to compensate for blood loss. CORRECT ANSWERS: increase heart rate Resuscitation fluids should be warmed 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F). Can you use a microwave to do this? CORRECT ANSWERS: YES - for CRYSTALLOID ONLY (but NOT for blood products). Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume status. List 5 signs of urethral injury that might prevent you from inserting one. CORRECT ANSWERS: Blood at urethral meatus, perineal ecchymosis, blood in scrotum, high-riding/non-palpable prostate, pelvic fracture Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on? CORRECT ANSWERS: The arm with a blood pressure cuff on it Name two anatomical things that can interfere with doing a FAST scan. CORRECT ANSWERS: Obesity & intraluminal bowel gas When should radiographs be obtained? CORRECT ANSWERS: During the SECONDARY survey. How do you get an ample patient history? CORRECT ANSWER