Head injury/CT scan guidelines

Question 1

key pieces to remember in hx

Answer 1

meds (anticoagulants)
N/V
trauma

Question 2

CT within 1 hour

Answer 2

GCS<13 initial assessment
GCS<15 2hrs after injury
suspected open/depressed skull fracture
basal skull fracture
post-trauma seizure
focal neurological deficit
>1 episode vomiting

Question 3

CT within 8 hours

Answer 3

> 65
hx bleeding/clotting disorders
dangerous mechanism
30mins retrograde amnesia

Question 4

in an emergency look for

Answer 4

panda eye, CSF leaking from nose/mouth, battle sign

cushing’s triad: Cheyne stoke breathing, hypertension, bradycardia

Question 5

remember in A in head injury

Answer 5

stabilise cervical spine

Question 6

remember in C in head injury

Answer 6

consider hypertonic saline or mannitol - senior help
consider anti-epileptics