Emergency Medicine Flashcards
circulation: give what kind of fluids first?
2-3 L of crystalloids (normal saline or lactated ringers) then after then add blood
primary survey
A-airway with c-spine stabilization B-breathing C-circulation with hemorrhage control D-disability E-exposure
which injuries do you treat first?
the most lethal ones
how do you assess patience of airway?
c-spine injury? Stridor, signs of obstruction
Blood, loose tissue, avulsed teeth,
Fx’s: facial, mandibular, tracheal
when to intubate?
Altered mental status
Unable to maintain airway
when to do cricothyroidotomy?
If inability to intubate due to airway edema, hemorrhage, laryngeal fx.
airway interventions
Chin lift/jaw thrust Suctioning Oral or nasal airway Intubation Altered mental status Unable to maintain airway Cricothyroidotomy
what do you assess for circulation?
Vital signs: hypotension, tachycardia Pulse: strong vs. rapid/thready Level of consciousness: Impaired cerebral perfusion? Skin color: pink vs. pale/ashen Bleeding External: identify and control Internal: intra-abdominal, intra-thoracic, femur/pelvis fx. Need for emergent surgery?
how do you assess disability?
brief neuro exam: mental status ,pupil size, see if can move all 4 extremities
what doees AVPU stand for?
Alert
Responds to Verbal StimulI
Responds to Painful Stimuli
Unresponsive
3 std initial trauma x rays
lateral c-spine, CXR, pelvis
initial labs in trauma
Type and crossmatch in severely injured pt CBC, chem-7, amylase UA UPT in females ETOH, drug screen
secondary survey of head
Head Scalp bleeding Control with direct pressure Skull Signs of fx: creptius or stepoff Pupils Ears Hemotympanum? (basilar skull fx) Facial fractures
secondary survey of neck
C-spine tenderness
Laryngeal injury, tracheal deviation (tension pneumo)
Keep immobilized until injury definitely ruled out
secondary survey of cheset
Bruising, deformity, tenderness, crepitus Review CXR Injuries Sternal fx, rib fx Flail chest Tension pneumothorax Hemothorax Sucking chest wound Cardiac tamponade Aortic rupture
secondary survey of abdomen/pelvis
Distention (internal bleeding)
Ecchymosis
Penetrating wound
Tenderness
Pelvic instability (press on anterior superior iliac spine)
Place nasogastric or orogastric tube
Frequent reassessment to look for change
“High-riding” prostate suggests ?
pelvic fracture/urethral disruption
secondary survey of genitourinary
External inspection Bruises, hematomas, lacerations Rectal exam Blood? “High-riding” prostate suggests pelvic fracture/urethral disruption Bimanual vaginal exam Lacerations, blood Pregnancy test on females Place Foley catheter
secondary survey of m/S system
Musculoskeletal Back Log-roll patient while stabilizing C-spine Inspection Percussion for tenderness of thoracic or lumbar spine CVA tenderness Extremities Soft tissue injury Lacerations Fractures
secondary survey of neuro
Neuro More thorough neuro exam Level of consciousness Glascow Coma Score is the standard Re-eval of LOC and pupils Look for signs of deterioration Motor/Sensory of extremities
3 components of glasgow coma scale
eye opening, verbal response, motor response
lowest and highest scores of glasgow coma scale
3, 15
T or F: always assume hypotension is due to brain injury
F: always look for other source of hemorrhage head injuries usu cause hypertension
assessment of head trauma
Neurologic Exam
Level of consciousness
Glascow Coma Score
Pupil size/reactivity/equality
Motor exam
Unilateral deficit suggests intracranial mass lesion
If flaccidity, suspect spinal cord injury
Brainstem function
Corneal, gag reflexes
Repeated exams essential to detect deterioration
standard imaging for suspected head trauma
CT: head X-rays are worthless b/c don’t give you info on brain
tx of linear non depresses skull fx
none! if no depression, no problem with brain no tx needed