Secondary survey Flashcards
What is the purpose of the secondary survey?
Taking a focussed history and carrying out head to toe examination of the patient in order to manage non-life threatening injuries not identified in primary survey
What are the main components of a secondary survey?
- Reassessment of vital signs
- Focussed history
- Physical examination - head to toe
What mnemonic would you use to remember the areas to cover in a focussed history as part of your secondary survey?
- Allergies
- Medication
- PMH/Pregnancy
- Last meal
- Events leading up to injury/environment related to injury
What is important to inspect when looking at the head as part of a head to toe examination in your secondary survey?
- Head and face for bruises or swelling
- Eyes for injury or deformity
- Skull for deformity
- Nose/eyes/mouth for blood
- Battle’s sign
What should you inspect for in the neck as part of a secondary survey?
- Any tenderness of deformity of c-spine
- Manual inline stabilisation/immobilisation
What would you look for on the chest as part of your secondary survey?
- Any wounds, bruises or abnormal movements
- Deformities
- Auscultation - air entry or added sounds
What would you look for on the abdomen as part of your secondary survey?
- Wounds, bruises or abnormal movements or distention
- Abdominal tenderness
- Seat belt sign
What would you look for in the upper limb as part of a secondary survey?
- Deformities, bruises, colour, fractures
- CRT
- Sensation and function
- Check neurovascular status
What would you look for in the lower back as part of your secondary survey?
- SPinal tenderness/ovious injury
- Wounds
What would you look for in the pelvis on secondary survey?
Obvious deformity
What should you not do when examining/inspecting the pelvis?
Do not Spring the pelvis
How would you inspect the spine for tenderness?
Via log roll
What would you look for when examining the genitals as part of your secondary survey?
- Fluid or bleeding from urethea
- Scrotal swelling or deformity
What would you look for in the lower limbs as part of your secondary survey?
- Deformities, bruises, colour and fractures
- CRT
- Normal function/sensation
What generic questions could you ask as part of your secondary survey?
- Are you in pain?
- Where is the pain?
- What is bothering you?
