Chapter 1 - Trauma Flashcards
How do you know if an airway is present?
Patient is conscious and speaking in a normal tone of voice
In a patient who is conscious and speaking in a normal tone of voice, the airway can soon be lost in what two situations?
Expanding hematoma or emphysema in the neck
What are 4 indications for an airway?
Unconscious (GCS of 8 or under)
Breathing is noisy or gurgly
Severe inhalation injury (breathing smoke)
If respirator is needed
If an indication for securing an airway exists in a patient with potential cervical spine injury, what should be done first?
Airway (before dealing with the cervical spine injury)
An airway is most commonly inserted by ___, under direct vision with use of a ___, assisted in the awake patient by rapid induction with monitoring of pulse oximetry, or less commonly with the help of topical anesthesia.
Orotracheal intubation; laryngoscope
When is the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope mandatory?
When securing an airway if there is subcutaneous emphysema in the neck, which is a sign of major traumatic disruption
If for any reason (laryngospasm, severe maxillofacial injuries, an impacted foreign body that cannot be dislodged, etc.) intubation cannot be done in the usual manner and we are running out of time, what becomes necessary?
Cricothyroidotomy (quickest and safest way to temporarily gain access before the patient sustains anoxic injury)
How is breathing assessed (ABCs)?
Hearing breath sounds on both sides of the chest and having satisfactory pulse oximetry
Clinical signs of shock?
Low BP (<90 systolic)
Fast feeble pulse
Low urinary output (<0.5 mL/kg/hr) in a patient who is pale, cold, shivering, sweating, thirsty, and apprehensive
In the trauma setting, shock is caused by either ___, ___, or ___.
Bleeding (hypovolemic-hemorrhagic most commonly)
Pericardial tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
How can you distinguish between the 3 common causes of shock in the trauma setting (bleeding vs. pericardial tamponade vs. tension pneumothorax)?
In shock caused by bleeding, the central venous pressure (CVP) is low (empty veins clinically).
In both tamponade and tension PT, CVP is high (big distended head and neck veins clinically).
In tamponade, there is no respiratory distress.
In tension PT, there is severe respiratory distress, one side of the chest has no breath sounds and is hyperresonant to percussion, and the mediastinum is displaced to the opposite side (tracheal deviation).
The treatment of hemorrhagic shock in the urban setting (big trauma center nearby), with penetrating injuries that will require surgery anyway, starts with the surgical intervention to stop the bleeding, and volume replacement takes place afterward. What is done in all other settings?
Volume replacement is the first step, starting with ~2L of Ringer lactate (without sugar), followed by packed red cells, FFP, and platelet packs, in a 1-1-1 ratio, until urinary output reaches 0.5-2 mL/kg/h, while not exceeding CVP of 15 mm Hg.
Uncontrolled massive bleeding is lethal, and os is untreated hemorrhagic shock. In the usual civilian setting, where one single patient arrives with a visible source of bleeding to an ER staffed by tons of people, that bleeding is best controlled with what?
Local pressure; gloved finger pushes and occludes the lacerated vessel until it can be repaired
In the trauma setting, what is the preferred route of fluid resuscitation? If these cannot be used? In children under 6?
2 peripheral IV lines (16-gauge); Percutaneous femoral vein catheter or saphenous vein cut-downs (alternatives); intraosseous cannulation of the proximal tibia (alternative)
Management of pericardial tamponade is based on clinical diagnosis (if unclear, choose ___ to diagnose) and centered on prompt evacuation of the pericardial sac. Fluid and blood administration while evacuation is being set up is helpful.
U/S
Management of tension PT is also based on clinical diagnosis. Start with ___ into the affected pleural space.. Follow with ___ connected to underwater seal (both inserted high in the anterior chest wall).
Big needle or big IV catheter; chest tube
Shock can be hypovolemic, from bleeding or other massive fluid losses (burns, pancreatitis, severe diarrhea). The classical clinical signs of shock will include a low ___. Treat the cause and replace the volume.
CVP
Intrinsic cardiogenic shock can happen with massive infarction or fulminating myocarditis. In this case, the clinical signs will come with ___, a key identifying feature. Treat with circulatory support.
High CVP
Vasomotor shock is seen in anaphylactic reactions and high spinal cord resection or high spinal anesthetic. Circulatory collapse occurs in patients who appear ___. CVP is ___. What is the main therapy?
Flushed “pink and warm”; low
Vasopressors to restore peripheral resistance; additional fluids will help
What are the three components of septic shock?
Early: low peripheral resistance and high cardiac output
Later: cardiogenic and hypovolemic features
Initial treatment of septic shock? Why?
ABX + steroid bolus; patients who respond beautifully at first then suffer a relapse may have adrenal insufficiency
Management of penetrating head trauma?
Surgical intervention and repair of the damage
Management of linear skull fractures?
Left alone if they are closed (no overlying wound)
Wound closure if open
Treat in the OR if comminuted or depressed
Management of anyone with head trauma who has become unconscious?
CT to look for intracranial hematomas
In anyone with head trauma who has become unconscious has a negative CT scan, can they go home?
They can go home if the family will wake them up frequently during the next 24 hours to make sure they are not going into coma
Signs of a fracture affecting the base of the skull?
Raccoon eyes, rhinorrea, otorrhea or ecchymosis behind the ear
Management of suspected fracture at the base of the skull?
Expectant management is the rule. The significance of a base of the skull fracture is that it indicates that the patient sustained very severe head trauma, and thus requires that we assess the integrity of the cervical spine with CT scan. Avoid nasal endotracheal intubation in these patients.
Neurologic damage from trauma can be caused by what three components? What is the management for each?
Initial blow -> no treatment
Subsequent development of a hematoma that displaces midline structures -> surgery
Later development of increased ICP -> medical measures to prevent or minimize
Classic presentation of acute epidural hematoma?
Modest trauma to the side of the head
Classic sequence of trauma, unconsciousness, lucid interval (completely asymptomatic patient who returns to previous activity), gradual lapsing into coma again, fixed dilated pupil (90% of the time on the side of the hematoma), and contralateral hemiparesis with decerebrate posture
CT scan findings of acute epidural hematoma?
Biconvex, lens-shaped hematoma
Management of acute epidural hematoma?
Emergency craniotomy -> dramatic cure
Classic presentation of acute subdural hematoma?
Major trauma (relative to epidural) Sicker (not fully awake and asymptomatic at any point) Severe neurologic damage
CT scan findings of acute subdural hematoma?
Semilunar, crescent-shaped hematoma
Management of acute subdural hematoma?
If midline structures are deviated, craniotomy will help, but prognosis is bad. If there is no deviation, therapy is centered on preventing further damage from subsequent increased ICP -> monitor ICP, elevate head, hyperventilate (signs of herniation, goal PCO2 of 35), avoid fluid overload, give mannitol or furosemide.
Do not diurese to the point of lowering systemic arterial pressure (brain perfusion = arterial pressure - ICP).
Sedation and hypothermia have been used to decrease brain activity and oxygen demand.
Diffuse axonal injury occurs in more severe trauma. How does it appear on CT scan?
Diffuse blurring of the gray-white matter interface and multiple small punctate hemorrhages
Management of diffuse axonal injury?
Without hematoma, there is no role for surgery.
Therapy aims to prevent further damage from increased ICP
2 patient population often affected by chronic subdural hematoma?
Very old patients
Severe alcohol use disorder
(A shrunken brain is rattled around the head by minor trauma, tearing venous sinuses).
Presentation of chronic subdural hematoma?
Over several days or weeks, mental function deteriorates as hematoma forms.
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic subdural hematoma?
CT scan; surgical evacuation -> dramatic cure
True or false - hypovolemic shock cannot happen from intracranial bleeding.
True - there isn’t enough space inside the head for the amount of blood loss needed to produce shock. Look for another source.
Management of penetrating trauma to the neck?
Surgical exploration in all cases where there is an expanding hematoma, deteriorating vital signs, or clear signs of esophageal or tracheal injury (coughing or spitting up blood)
For gunshot wounds in the upper zone of the neck, what is the preferred management?
Arteriographic diagnosis and management
For gunshot wounds to the base of the neck, what is the preferred management?
Arteriography
Esophagogram (water-soluble, followed by barium if negative)
Esophagoscopy
Bronchoscopy
All before surgery to help decide the specific approach
Management of stab wounds to the upper and middle zones of the neck in asymptomatic patients?
Safe to observe
In all patients with severe blunt trauma to the neck, the integrity of the ___ has to be ascertained.
Cervical spine
If there are neurologic deficits in a patient with severe blunt trauma to the neck, the need to radiologically examine the neck with CT of the cervical spine is obvious, but it also has to be done in neurologically intact patients with what finding on exam?
Pain to local palpation over the cervical spine
Findings in a complete transection of the spinal cord?
No motor or sensory function below the lesion
Hemisection (Brown-Sequard) is typically from what kind of injury? How does it present?
Clean-cut injury (knife blade)
Paralysis and loss of proprioception distal to the injury on the injury side and loss of pain perception distal to the injury on the opposite side
Anterior cord syndrome is typically caused by what? How does it present?
Burst fractures of the vertebral bodies; loss of motor function and loss of pain and temperature sensation on both sides distal to the injury, with preservation of vibratory and positional sense
Typical cause and presentation of central cord syndrome?
Elderly with forced hyperextension of the neck (rear-end collision)
Paralysis and burning pain in the upper extremities, with preservation of most functions in the lower extremities
Management of cord injury?
Precise diagnosis with MRI; corticosteroids immediately after injury is no longer recommended
Rib fracture can be deadly in the elderly - why?
Progression of pain -> hypoventilation -> atelectasis -> pneumonia
Manage rib fracture?
Local nerve block and epidural catheter
Plain pneumothorax results from what type of trauma? Presentation?
Penetrating trauma; moderate SOB, absent breath sounds and hyperresonance unilaterally
Presentation of hemothorax compared to plain pneumothorax?
Affected side will be dull to percussion
Management of hemothorax?
Dx with CXR
Evacuate blood with chest tube (placed low) to prevent empyema development
Surgery to stop the bleeding is seldom required (usually lung, will stop by itself)
If we get 1,500+ mL of blood when a chest tube is inserted (or more than 600 mL in the ensuing 6 hours), what does this indicate and what is the management?
Systemic vessel is lacerated (typically an intercostal artery); video-assisted thoracotomy to control the bleeding