Pestana Trauma Flashcards
2 causes of airway compromise
expanding hematoma
subcuntaenous emphysema
how are airways usually secured?
orotracheal intubation under direct vision with the use of a laryngoscope
when is the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope indicated for securing an airway?
when there is sub-cu emphysema in the neck (occurs when there is injury to the tracheobronchial tree )
when is crichothyroidtomy indicated for securing an airway? 3
in times when intubation cannot be done with an orotracheal intubation, such as
- laryngospasm
- severe maxillofacial injuries
- foreign body in the airway that cannot be dislodged
Clinical signs of shock
low BP (
tachycarida
low UO (
pale, cold, shivering, diaphoretic, thirsty and apprehnsive
in the trauma setting, what is shock usually caused by? 3
bleeding (hemorrhage)
pericardial tamponade
tension pneumothorax
How do these differ in terms of central venous pressure?
bleeding (hemorrhage)
pericardial tamponade
tension pneumothorax
- bleeding (hemorrhage) = LOW CVP (flat veins)
- pericardial tamponade = HIGH CVP (bulging veins)
- tension pneumothorax = HIGH CVP
treatment of hemrorhagic shock at a trauma setting
surgical intervention to stop bleeding, followed by volume replacement (2L of LR w/o surgar, followed by PRBC) until UO reaches at ≥ 0.5 mL/kg/h while not exceeding CVP of 15mmHg
preferred route of fluid resuscitation
2 peripheral IV lines, 16 guage
what happens if you cannot establish a peripheral IV line in:
a little old lady
children
little old lady - percutaneous femoral vein catheter or saphenous vein cut-downs
children - intraossesus cannulation of the proximal tibia
how is pericaridal tamponade typically managed?
pericardiocentesis
how is tension pneumothorax diagnosed and managed?
by physical exam: presence of a skin flap that sucks air with inspiration and closes during expiration; do not wait for an x-ray or blood gases)
big needle/cathether into the pleural space followed by chest tube to water seal (both inserted high in the anterior chest wall)
3 causes of shock
hypovolemic
cardiogenic
vasomotor
causes of hypovolemic shock
management?
anything that causes massive fluid loss:
burns
peritonitis
pancreatitis
massive diarrhea
management: blood volume replacement (2L of LR w.o sugar + PRBC until UO reaches 0.5 - 2 ml/kg/h without exceeding CVP of 15 mmHg)
Ideal blood volume replacement
2L of LR solution (w/o sugar) + PRBC until UO reaches ≥ 0.5 - 2 mL/kg/h without exceeding CVP of 15 mmHg or less)
2 causes & management of cardiogenic shock?
MI or myocarditis
circulatory support - avoid giving blood + fluids since it will be lethal
3 main causes of vasomotor shock
anaphylactic reactions
high spinal cord transection
spinal anesthetic
how do pts with vasomotor shock present? 2
how should these patients be managed?
low CVP (flat veins), pink and warm patient
vasopressors + IVF
mgmt of patients with penetrating head trauma
surgical repair
mgmt of linear skull fractures
nothing if closed fracture
surgical closure if open fracture
pt with head trauma is neurologically intact
next best step in management?
can send them home only if they have family that will wake them up frequently during the next 24 hours to ensure that they’re not comatose
pt with head trauma suddenly becomes unconscious
next best step in management?
head CT (look for intracranial hematoma/bleed)
how do patients with fractures affecting the base of the skull present? 4
next best step in management of these patients? 2
what should you avoid in these patients? 1
raccoon eyes, rhinorrhea, otorrhea, ecchymosis behind ear
Expectant management + CT H&N to assess the integrity of the cervical spine (since patients with these types of fractures typically have sustained a very severe head trauma)
avoid nasal endotracheal intubation
epidural hematoma
how to make the diagnosis?
management?
CT scan
emergency craniotomy
what happens if epidural hematomas are not treated?
fixed dilated pupil (usually ipsilateral to hematoma)
contralateral hemiparesis + decerebrate posture
subdural hematoma
how to make the diagnosis?
management?
CT scan: semi-lunar, crescent shaped hematoma
management depends if there is deviation of midline structures:
- deviation -> craniotomy
- no deviation -> decrease ICP by elevating head, hyperventilation, avoid fluid overload, give mannitol or furosemide
6 ways to decrease ICP
elevate head
hyperventilate until PCO2 = 35
(hypocapnia causes constriction/ hypercapnia causes dilation of cerebral arteries/arterioles)
avoid fluid overload
Rx: mannitol or furosemide
sedation (decrease oxygen demand of the brain)
hypothermia ( “” )
CT of head shows evidence of diffuse blurring of the GW matter interface and multiple small punctate hemorrhages.
Diagnosis?
Management? 2
Diffuse axonal injury - usually occurs when there is severe head trauma
therapy - reduce ICP (there is a flashcard about this) or surgery if there is a hematoma
in which patients do chronic subdural hematomas occur? 2
how do they usually present?
how are they diagnosed and treated?
in very old or severe alcoholics
mental status deteriorates over the course of several days or weeks as the hematoma forms
CT scan
surgical evacuation
patient shows up with a penetrating trauma to the neck
when would surgery be indicated? 3
expanding hematoma
deteriorating vitals
esophageal/tracheal injury (blood)
patient presents to the ED after falling and hitting his head in a snowboard accident.
next best step in management?
CT of H&N (cervical spine)
how do patients with complete transection of the spinal cord present?
lack of sensory + motor function below the lesion
how do patients with hemisection/Brown-sequard of the spinal cord present?
ipsilateral loss of pain + proprioception
contralateral loss of temperature and pain sensation
“control temp/pain”
how do patients with anterior cord syndrome?
how does this usually develop?
loss of motor, pain, and temperature (injury to spinothalamic tracts) bilaterally and distal to the injury with preservation of vibratory and positional sense (DCML columns are intact)
typically seen in burst fractures of vertebral bodies
how do patients with central cord syndrome present?
how does this usually develop? 3
paralysis and burning pain in the upper extremities with preservation of most functions in the lower extremities (according to wiki, patients may have some evidence of bladder dysfunction/retention)
forced hyperextension of the neck (usually secondary to rear end collision), which may cause either
- bleeding into the central part of the cord
- selective axonal disruption in the lateral columns at the level of the injury to the spinal cord with relative preservation of the grey matter
- fracture dislocation -> anteroposterior compressive forces also distribute the greatest damaging effect on the central mass of the cord substance