EM Flashcards
What are the ABCDs of acute management of patients?
Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Exposure
Under what GCS score is intubation indicated?
GSC under 8, intubate!
What is the treatment for hemoperitoneum?
Surgery
What is the role of placing a foley catheter in the hemodynamically unstable patient?
Monitor urine output in those receiving fluids
When is a CT neck/ spine indicated in a trauma patient?
Neck pain / TTP
Neurological findings
Depressed mental status
What are the three main components of the GCS coma scale? How many points are in each category?
Eye opening 4 (EYES)
Verbal response 5 (VOICE)
Motor response 6 (ARM+ LEG)
What are scores for 1-4 for the eye opening portion of the GSC scale?
4 = spontaneous 3 = opens to command 2 = opens to pain 1 = none
What are scores for 1-5 for the verbal response portion of the GSC scale?
5= Oriented 4 = confused speech 3 = inappropriate words 2 = incomprehensible 1 = None
What are scores for 1-6 for the motor response portion of the GSC scale?
6 = follows commands 5 = localized pain 4 = Withdraws to pain 3 = Flexion 2 = extension 1 = none
What is the classic triad for cardiac tamponade?
Muffled heart sounds
JVD
Hypotension
What are the components of circulation management in the trauma / unstable patient?
Assess pulses
Control bleeding
IVFs PRN
What are the components of the disability part of the primary assessment?
GCS score
What are the components of the exposure part of the primary assessment?
Disrobe pt and inspect
Cover pt
A rough estimate of systolic BP (SBP) can be made on the basis of palpated pulses; Carotids correspond roughly to an SBP of what?
60 mmHg
A rough estimate of systolic BP (SBP) can be made on the basis of palpated pulses;Femorals correspond to a rough SBP of what?
70 mmHg
A rough estimate of systolic BP (SBP) can be made on the basis of palpated pulses; Radial correspond to a SBP of what?
80 mmHg
All wounds that penetrate what anatomical structure are considered true penetrating neck trauma?
Platysma
What is indicated in the ABCDEs of patients with penetrating neck traumas?
Intubation before airway is compromised
Immediate surgical exploration of neck wounds is indicated if what?
If shock and active hemorrhage are present
What testing is indicated in the treatment of penetrating neck trauma?
Angiography of the neck
Doppler US
Contrast esophagram
True or false: intubation is indicated in all cases of thoracic trauma with penetrating injuries
True
When is an open thoracotomy indicated to rule out pericardial effusion with penetrating chest trauma?
If patient goes into cardiac arrest in ED or shortly before arrival
If a patient with a chest trauma suddenly becomes hemodynamically unstable, what should be at the top of the differential?
Air embolism
A new diastolic murmur after chest trauma suggests what?
Aortic dissection
Penetrating trauma to areas lower than what anatomic landmark warrants abdominal investigation?
Nipple line
What are the indications for surgical exploration in penetrating stab wounds to the abdomen?
Hemodynamic instability or evisceration
What is the next step in diagnostic evaluation of an abdominal stab wound in the stable patient?
CT a close f/u
What are the first steps in MS injures?
Early wound irrigation
Wound debridement
Tetanus prophylaxis
Vascular injuries usually require what diagnostic evaluation and management?
Arteriography
Nerve injuries usually require what sort of management?
Surgical
What should always be assessed for with blunt head trauma, besides bleeding, fractures, and neuro?
Increased ICP
What is the stabilizing treatment for increased ICP? (3)
Head elevation
Hyperventilation
IV mannitol
What are the CT characteristics of diffuse axonal injuries?
Blurring and punctate hemorrhaging along the gray-white matter junction
Blurring and punctate hemorrhaging along the gray-white matter junction on a head CT indicates what sort of trauma?
Rapid-deceleration injuries leading to diffuse axonal injury
What are the shape of epidural hematomas? Can they cross suture lines?
Lenticular
Cannot cross suture lines
What artery is classically indicated in epidural hematomas?
Middle meningeal artery
What type of hematoma is characterized by a lucid interval”?
Epidural
What is the shape of subdural hematomas? Can these cross suture lines?
Follow the curve of the skull (crescentic)
Cross suture lines
What is/are the artery/arteries that are implicated in subdural hematomas?
Briding veins
Tracheobronchial disruption is most often caused by what sort of trauma?
Deceleration shearing forces
What are the PE findings of tracheobronchial disruptions?
Respiratory distress
Hemoptysis
Sternal TTP
Subcutaneous emphysema
Blunt cardiac injury may manifest how on an EKG?
New BBB
Ectopy
Dysrhythmia
True or false: blunt cardiac injury rarely requires intervention
True
What is the pathophysiology of pulmonary contusion?
Damage to capillaries and leakage of intra and extravascular fluid, causing hypoxic
What is the mainstay of treatment for pulmonary contusion?
Diuretics and fluid restriction, and airway support
What will a CXR show with pulmonary contusion?
Patchy alveolar opacities
What is the classic cause of aortic disruption?
Rapid-deceleration injury
Aortic disruption is often associated with what bony fractures? (4)
- 1st rib
- Second rib
- Scapular
- Sternal
What causes the hoarse voice that may appear with an aortic disruption?
Pressure on the recurrent laryngeal nerve
What causes a flail chest (physically)?
Three or more adjacent ribs, fractured at two points
What is the treatment for a flail chest?
O2, narcotic analgesia
What is the major complication of a flail chest?
Respiratory compromise
What is the most common solid organ to be traumatized in the abdomen? Second most common?
Spleen
Liver
What is Kehr’s sign?
Referred pain to the shoulder from peritoneal irritation
What is the duodenum susceptible to traumatic injury?
Sits right in front of the spine
What are the radiographic findings of a diaphragmatic rupture?
Elevated hemidiaphragm
What is the most commonly injured GU organ?
Kidneys
True or false: hemodynamically unstable patients with blunt abdominal trauma should undergo immediate exploratory lap
True
What is the immediate treatment for a pelvic fracture?
External binder
What is the treatment for a pelvic fracture?
Early resuscitation
Angiography with embolization of bleeding vessels
Why do pelvic fractures tend to occur in multiple places?
Ring-like structure
What are the exam findings of a urethral injury?
High riding prostate
Blood at the urethral meatus/scrotum
Non-palpable prostate
What test is needed to r/o a urethral injury prior to catheter placement?
Retrograde urethrogram
What are the 5 H’s of PEA?
Hypothermia Hypovolemia Hypoxia H+ Hyper/hyp K
What are the 5 T’s of PEA?
Tablets: drug overdose, ingestion Tamponade: cardiac Tension pneumothorax Thrombosis: coronary Thrombosis: pulmonary embolism
What Joules is used when shocking v-fib/pulseless v-tach?
120-200 J (biphasic)
What is the treatment for unstable SVT?
Shock
What is the treatment for stable SVT?
Adenosine, then beta blockers/CCBs
How many hours in a-fib is a contraindication to cardioversion?
48 hours
What is the treatment for symptomatic bradycardia?
Atropine
Dopamine
Epi
Transcutaneous pacing
Sudden onset abdominal pain with rigidity = ?
Perforated bowel
How can pneumonia cause upper abdominal pain?
Diaphragmatic irritation
A ⊕ β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in the setting of shock is what until proven otherwise.
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
True or false: peritoneal signs warrant surgical exploration
True
What are the two exam that are needed with abdominal pain?
Rectal
Pelvic
What is the classic presentation of a fat embolism?
fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, conjunctival hemorrhage, and upper extremity petechiae after a patient suffers longbone fractures.
When is an NG tube needed for decompression of the stomach?
In the setting of bowel obstruction
What is the diagnostic work-up for appendicitis?
CT with PO and IV contrast or US
What is the treatment for a rupture appendix?
Abx until afebrile
What is the treatment for a psoas abscess?
Broad spectrum abx and percutaneous drainage
What are the rule of 9’s relating to burns and surface areas?
Head and each arm = 9%, each
Back and chest each = 18%
Each leg = 18%
Perineum = 1%
*Patient’s palm (including fingers) represents about 1% of total BSA in adults and children.
What is the parkland formula for calculating IVFs needed in burn patients?
Fluids for the first 24 hours = 4 × patient’s weight in kg × % BSA.
Give 50% of fluids over the first 8 hours and the remaining 50% over the following 16 hours.
What are first degree burns?
BUrns that only involve the epidermis
What are second degree burns?
Burns that involve epidermis and dermis
What are third degree burns?
Burns that involve dermis, epidermis, and SQ tissue
What type of burns have blisters?
2nd degree