SA MED - ECC Triage & The Trauma Patient Flashcards
In a trauma patient, crackles likely indicate ____
Bleeding in the lungs - worry about pulmonary contusions
What is flail chest?
Paradoxical thoracic wall motion
What is normal SpO2?
95% +
In a trauma patient, decreased lung sounds dorsally may indicate ___.
Pneumothorax
Which problem should be addressed first?
Hyperglycemia
Wounds
Dyspnea
Shock
Dyspnea - most life-threatening
List systems in order of priority
Respiratory - airway, breathing
Cardiovascular
Neuro
Abdominal organs
Musculoskeletal
Integumentary
Airway assessment:
If not breathing, _________.
If airway obstructed, ________.
If not breathing, place endotracheal tube.
If airway obstructed, perform emergency tracheostomy
Breathing
If dyspnic, ____.
Most common respiratory injuries:
If dyspnic, administer supplemental O2.
Most common respiratory injuries
- pulmonary contusions
- pneumothorax
- rib fractures
Radiographic appearance of pulmonary contusions
Appears as an infiltrate
Does not follow anatomical pattern
May not appear until 12 hours after trauma - example of rad changes lagging behind clinical signs
What are pulmonary contusions and what do they cause?
Alveoli filled with blood and edematous fluid
Results in atelectasis and hypoxemia
Pneumothorax results in ____, _____, and interferes with _____.
Pneumothorax results in atelectasis, hypoxemia, and interferes with venous return
What is the preferred initial therapy for pneumothorax?
Thoracocentesis
Aspirate both sides X2
When is placement of a thoracostomy tube indicated?
When a thoracocentesis X2 does not relieve dyspnea with a pneumothorax
What are the most common complications for rib fractures?
Pain and limited chest wall motion
Rib fractures result in:
Atelectasis and hypoxemia
