trauma Flashcards
principles of trauma
-Broadly classified by the mechanism
-Multidisciplinary approach
-Teams are often ATLS certified
-Defined roles and positions
-!Simultaneous assessment and treatment
critical dx in the polytrauma pt
-INCRACRANIAL INJURIES:
-Subdural hemorrhage
-Epidural hemorrhage
-Subdural Hemorrhage
-Epidural Hemorrhage
-Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
-Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage
-Intraventricular Hemorrhage
-Traumatic Brain Injury
-Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury
-INTRATHORACIC INJURIES:
-blunt cardiac injury
-traumatic aortic injury
-pneumothorax
-cardiac tamponade
-INTRA-ABDOMINAL or GU:
-splenic injuries
-renal injuries
-liver injuries
-urethral/bladder injuries
-MSK INJURIES:
-Spinal Cord Injury
-Spinal Ligamentous Injury
-Vertebral Fractures
-Displaced Fractures/Dislocations
-Pelvic Fractures
-Compartment Syndrome
-VASCULAR INJURIES:
-Aortic Rupture / Dissection
-Carotid/Vertebral Artery Dissection
-Extremity Vascular
-Laceration/Dissection
5 causes of hypotension in trauma
-hemorrhagic!! MC cause of death
-tamponade- EFAST
-tension pneumothorax- listen
-neurogenic- spinal cord injury
-toxicologic
trauma overview
-history: MOI
-Primary survey:
-Detect and prevent life threatening injuries
-ABCDE
-C-collar -> Log roll video
-Adjuncts: Monitors, XRAYs, E-FAST exam, Labs
-Secondary survey:
-Head to toe exam- further injuries
-AMPLE- allergies, meds, PMH, last meal event, environment
-Imaging:
-advanced imaging once stabilized
-Disposition:
-OR
-IR
-Observation
-Transfer
trauma- airway + C-spine
-Look for:
-Incoherence (GCS<8)
-Stridor
-Drooling
-Facial burns
-Facial / neck injuries, edema
-Blood or other airway obstruction
-Penetrating neck trauma -> expanding hematoma
-Protect:
-Suction to clear
-Jaw thrust, chin lift
-C-spine collar immobilization
-!Intubation
-Backup: Surgical airway (cric)
trauma- breathing
-Oxygen sat (goal>94%) and RR
-Listen for !equal bilateral breath sounds!
-Deviated trachea
-Chest wall wounds + motion
-Crepitus at neck or chest
-Pneumothorax (simple, tension, hemo)
-Flail chest:
-Fractures of ≥2 consecutive ribs in ≥ 2 places
-Paradoxical movement of the chest wall
-Contusion:
-Pulmonary or cardiac contusion
-Takes 24 hours to develop on XRAY
trauma- circulation
-IV access
-!!2 large bore IVs, IO, Central line (Cordis)
-Check PULSES, blood pressure
-Fluid resuscitation
-IV crystalloids
-Massive transfusion protocol (MTP)
-GOAL MAP ≥80 to maintain CPP
-Control bleeds
-direct pressure
-Pressure dressing
-Pelvic binder
-Tourniquet
-Position: LLD if 3rd trimester pregnancy
trauma- disability and dextrose
-!Pupil size and reactivity
-!Neuro assessment:
-GCS – Eye opening
-GCS – Verbal response
-GSC – Motor response
-4 extremity movement
-Brain or spinal cord injury
-Altered mental status
-Traumatic until proven otherwise
-Assess for: hypoglycemia!!, ETOH, narcotics
-Neurological life threats on primary survey:
-Penetrating cranial injury
-Intracranial hemorrhage- Subdural hematoma, Epidural hematoma, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Intraparenchymal or intraventricular hemorrhage
-Diffuse axonal injury
-High spinal cord injury
-If indicated and stable:
-!CT-head non contrast
-CT- c spine non contrast
trauma- exposure/environment
-!!Trauma patients = Trauma naked
-Avoid hypothermia
-Exacerbates bleeding in trauma
-Warm blankets
-Look for burns / toxic exposures etc.
-Examine the axillae, perineum , head/neck, urethral meatus
-A finger in every orifice
-Examine the back (C-spine, thoracic spine, flank, back, buttocks)
-C collar
-Log roll requires 4 people
22 year old male is brought to the ED via EMS after a MVC.
He was the unrestrained driver in a rollover vehicle traveling approximately 50 mph.
Another passenger died on scene
Patient require prolonged extrication
HR 120, BP 90/60, O2 90% on NRB, RR 30, Temp 98.6F
Immediately: IV access, Oxygen, Monitor, C-collar
-AIRWAY: Speaking in full sentences. No expanding hematoma. No soot in oropharynx.
-BREATHING: Decreased breath sounds on right anterior chest with tracheal deviation to the left
-STOP- Chest tube for pneumo/hemothorax -> SPO2 improved to 96% and RR 20
-bc its a hemothorax needle decompression wont really do much
-CIRCULATION: Radial and femoral pulses 1+. Sluggish cap refill. Pale and diaphoretic
-STOP- 1L fluid bolus -> HR 130, BP 90/60 (no improvement) -> blood transfusion -> HR 110, BP 95/65
FAST and E-FAST
-FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) examination
-Looks for the presence of fluid—presumed to be blood in the appropriate clinical setting—visualizing 10 structures or spaces in four areas:
-RUQ (hepatorenal space)
-LUQ (splenorenal space)
-Subxiphoid (cardiac space)
-Suprapubic region (pouch of Douglas)
-E-FAST (Extended FAST)
-Adds anterior and lateral pleural spaces (thoracic view)
-Evaluate for pneumothorax or pleural effusion (assumed to be a hemothorax)
-A negative FAST does NOT exclude intraabdominal or intrathoracic injury
-It helps us better triage a patient
-pelvic fracture and retroperitoneal bleed require CTA for dx- all the others can see on efast
When do we perform a FAST
-Evaluation of injury, hypotension and/or shock in trauma
-Evaluation of unexplained hypotension in non-trauma patient
-Identify rupture of ectopic pregnancy
why does FAST work in certain locations of the abdomen
Fluids in the abdomen tend to accumulate in certain areas, this is where the FAST exam focuses
EFAST- RUQ
-2 places to look for fluid in the RUQ:
-Between the liver and kidney
-Hemothorax
-MC place where blood goes to
-check here first
-right pic- shark fin sign- between liver and kidney is black = blood
-Lobules on the left of the kidney -> liver
EFAST- LUQ
-3 places to look for fluid in the LUQ
-Between the kidney and spleen
-Between the spleen and diaphragm
-Hemothorax
-No blood between spleen and kidney (white = good)
-diaphragm is under the spleen -> diaphragm isn’t adheresd to the spleen here -> blood between diaphragm and spleen = bad
EFAST- pelvic
-Get a good view of the bladder
Look for free fluid around the bladder
-between uterus and colon = douglas pouch
EFAST- subxiphoid
-bottom photo- black fluid between pericardium and heart
-top photo- normal
cardiac tamponade- rapid recap
-Sx:dyspneaand chest pain
-PE:muffled heart sounds,JVD,hypotension(Beck triad),pulsusparadoxus
-ECG: low-voltageQRS,electricalalternans
-Bedside Echocardiography (E-FAST)
-Pericardial fluid
-Diastolic collapse of RV(less sensitive but very specific)
-Early systolic collapse of RA(highly sensitive and specific)
-Plethoric IVC
-Tx:pericardiocentesis or delayed pericardial window
EFAST- fluid in lungs on RUQ/LUQ
-TOP PIC:
-Normal RUQ ultrasound
-Spine should only extend up until the lung border
-Lung should have mirror artifact
-Air is mucking the view of the spine above the diaphragm -> spine sign
-BOTTOM PIC:
-Large pleural effusion in RUQ
+Spine sign = can see the spine above the diaphragm due to pleural fluid allowing sound waves to penetrate
-black between the lung and diaphragm = pleural effusion maybe
Pulmonary views: NORMAL LUNG vs pathologic PTX
-GOAL:
-Obtain views of lung slide to assess for pneumothorax
-Pleural slide “Ants on a log” -M-Mode “Sea-shore” (bottom pic)
-The following signs are can be found in a pneumothorax
-No Pleural slide “Dead ants on a log”
-M-Mode “Barcode” (top pic)
tension pneumo- rapid recap
-Sx:dyspneaand chest pain
-PE:unilateral absent breath sounds, tracheal deviation, obvious chest trauma
-E-FAST- No lung sliding
-Tx can be performed prior to imaging in unstable patients with suggestive clinical signs of hemothorax or tension pneumothorax
-Needle decompression
-Chest tube placement
secondary survey
-After primary survey and resuscitation
-AMPLE history
-Head-to-toe
-Identify and control scalp wound bleeding with direct pressure, sutures, or surgical clips.
-Identify facial instability and potential for airway instability.
-Identify hemotympanum.
-Identify epistaxis or septal hematoma; consider tamponade or airway control if bleeding is profuse.
-Identify avulsed teeth or jaw instability.
-Evaluate for abdominal distention and tenderness.
-Identify penetrating chest, back, flank, or abdominal injuries.
-Assess for pelvic stability; consider pelvic wrap or sling.
-Inspect perineum for laceration or hematoma.
-Inspect urethral meatus for blood.
-Consider rectal examination for sphincter tone and gross blood.
-Assess peripheral pulses for vascular compromise.
-Identify extremity deformities, and immobilize open and closed fractures and dislocations.
-Frequent reassessment
trauma investigations
-EFAST = extended focused assessment stenography for trauma
-Trauma Panel: CBC, BMP, lactate, T&S + cross match, PT/PTT/INR, UA, HCG, Utox, Ethanol, Serum osm, Troponin (blunt cardiac injury), POC glucose
-If stable, perform imaging (x-rays, CT, CT angiography)
-CXR
-Pelvic XR
-CT: head, C-spine, chest, abdomen, pelvis PRN -> Only stable patients go to the CT scan
-CTA: Neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis
-If you suspect aortic or blunt cerebrovascular injury
-IV contrast, no oral contrast needed
-MRI
70 year old female from home reports a trip and fall while walking about one hour ago. She reports hitting her head, but denies any loss of consciousness. She reports mild tenderness where she hit her head but otherwise feels fine. She has not vomited or feels nauseous. She is not on anticoagulation. She denies any distal weakness or numbness.