Advanced Trauma Life Support questions and answers

What is included in the Primary survey of a trauma patient? -Airway and C-Spine -Breathing and Ventilation -Circulation/bleeding control -Disability (Neuro Eval) -Exposure and Environmental control. What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? ECG monitoring Urinary/Gastric Catheters Other Monitoring X-ray and Dx studies. What makes up the Secondary Survey? History and Physical Exam Mechanism of Injury Head and Maxillofacial C-spine Chest Abdomen Perineum/Rectum/Vagina Musculoskeletal Neurologic Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? 1. Preparation 2. Triage 3. Primary survey 4. Adjunct to Primary survey 5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer 6. Transfer if needed 7. Secondary Survey 8. Adjuncts to second Survey 9. Pt. re-evaluation 10. Definitive Care. What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? Ask the pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an idea about their airway and mental status. Failure to respond tells you there are abnormalities in ABCD. What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma above the clavicle or Altered mental status? That the C-spine is compromised. 4 Steps to manage A? Assess for patency Establish airway Maintain C-spine Reinstate Proper C-spine devices. 2 steps to Breathing? 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and palpate. Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance, auscultate chest bilaterally. All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail chest, Hemothorax, Open Pneumothorax. 2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension Pneumo, attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox. What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? Hemorrhage. 2 steps to managing C? 1. Identify any sources of external/internal bleeding bleeding. The four big areas for massive bleeding include: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis, Femur Fx. Assess Pulse quality, color of skin level of consciousness, BP. 2. Large bore IVs and obtain blood samples. Type and cross, ABG. Warm Fluids/blood. T or F: Aggressive and continued volume resuscitation is not a substitute for definitive control of hemorrhage. True. Blood loss Classifications? Class 1: 750mL Loss= 15% Class 2: 750-1500mL Loss=15-30% Class 3: mL Loss= 30-40% Class 4: >2000mL Loss= >40% Urine output will be less. HR will increase. BP decreases, Respiratory Rate Increases. At what class Should you start Blood transfusing? Class 3 or higher. 3 Steps to D? Establish Level of consciousness, Pupillary size and reaction, Lateralizing signs and spinal cord injury level. 1. Glascow score. 2. Pupil size and reaction Blown and dilated pupils indicate intracranial hemorrhage or swelling with increased ICP 3. Lateralizing signs. If they are moving, are they moving both sides equally, are there any signs of spinal cord injury. What is assessed in glasgow? eyes response= 4 Verbal response=5 Motor Response=6 At what Glasgow score should you intubate? 8 How can you control Exposure/Environment? Undress pt. Prevent Hypothermia Warmed IV fluids. Room temp maintained appropriately. What are some adjuncts that may be used during primary survey? ECG, ABGs, ET CO2, FAST ultrasound, DPL, Chest and pelvic Xrays, Urinary/Gastric Catheters When can the Secondary survey begin? When the Primary survey is completed, resuscitative efforts are underway and normalization of Vital functions has been demonstrated. 18 Steps to Secondary Survey? 1. AMPLE Hx 2. Mechanism of injury (Blunt/penetrating?) 3. Head/Maxillofacial (lacerations, contusions, pupils, Ears, nose and mouth for blood or CSF, eyes, CN function. Reassess GCS., Visual acuity 4. Maintain airway, Control hemorrhage, Prevent Secondary brain injury like anoxic or cerebral edema. Remove contact lenses. 5. C-spine and neck. Tracheal deviation, blunt or penetrating trauma, Respiratory muscles, carotid arteries for bruits, symmetry of pulses. Obtain CT of cervical spine or a lateral, cross-table spine xray. 6. In-line immobilization and protection of C- spine. 7- Chest: Palpate, Auscultate, Percuss, check for flail chest, contusion, bleeding, breathing. 8- Chest management: Needle decompression, Chest tube, Pericardiocentesis, Dressing any chest wounds. 9- Abdomen: Rigidness, AAA, Tenderness, Ultrasound, muscle guarding, bowel sounds, percussion, palpation, signs of blunt or penetrating trauma. Pelvic Xray, CT of abdomen. 10. Management of abdomen Immediate surgery for exploratory laparotomy, Pelvic compression binder. pregnancy. 11. Perineal Assessment for contusions, lacerations or bleeding. 12. Rectal assessment Bleeding, sphincter tone, bowell wall integrity, bony fragments, prostate position. 13. Vaginal Assessment in select pts. Presence of blood. Pregnancy. Exploratory surgery. 14. Musculoskeletal Assessment: Inspect extremities for blunt or penetrating trauma, deformities, lacerations, sensation, Pulses, fractures, control any bleeding if not done yet. Inspect and palpate throacic and lumbar spines for injury, deformity. X rays for suspected fracture sites.