Trauma: Patient Assessment

Question 1

What should be performed on arrival to the hospital to determine urgency of animal’s condition?

Answer 1

Triage examination

Question 2

What should follow the primary examination of the trauma patient?

Answer 2

mnemonic ABCs

Question 3

What conditions are treated immediately when identified?

Answer 3

life-threatening conditions

Question 4

What does the A stand for in the mnemonic ABCs?

Answer 4

airway

Question 5

What are these the clinical signs of?

1. Lack of breath
2. Dyspnea
3. Cyanosis

Answer 5

airway obstruction

Question 6

What are these the possible causes of?

1. Upper respiratory tract/oral cavity inflammation
2. FB (foreign body)
3. blood and mucus accumulation​

Answer 6

obstructed airway

Question 7

What are these the treatments for?

1. Remove fluids or FB (foreign body)
2. place ET tube
3. Perform tracheotomy

Answer 7

obstructed airway

Question 8

What does the B stand for in the mnemonic ABCs?

Answer 8

breathing

Question 9

What are these the clinical signs of?

1. Cyanosis
2. dyspnea​

Answer 9

breathing abnormalities

Question 10

What are these the possible causes of?

1. Pneumothorax
2. hemothorax
3. diaphragmatic hernia
4. fractured ribs (flail chest)

Answer 10

breathing abnormalities

Question 11

What are these the treatments for?

1. Provide oxygen supplementation
2. cover open wounds into thorax
3. remove air/fluids from thoracic cavity

Answer 11

breathing abnormalities

Question 12

How do you assess the animal’s airway?

Answer 12

check for patent airway

Question 13

How do you assess the animal’s breathing? (3)

Answer 13

1. Assess character of respiration​
2. Check oral mm’s​
3. Auscultate lungs​

Question 14

What does the C in the mnemonic ABCs stand for?

Answer 14

circulation

Question 15

How do you assess an animal’s circulation? (3)

Answer 15

1. Check oral mm’s​
2. Auscultate heart rate​
3. Palpate pulse​

Question 16

What are these the clinical signs of?

1. Tachycardia
2. Arrhythmia
3. weak pulse
4. pale mm’s
5. prolonged CRT
6. cold extremities​

Answer 16

cardiovascular abnormalities​

Question 17

What are these the possible causes of?

1. Hemorrhage
2. cardiac contusions ​

Answer 17

cardiovascular abnormalities​

Question 18

What are these the treatments for?

1. Stop hemorrhage
2. IV fluids

Answer 18

cardiovascular abnormalities​

Question 19

How do you stop a hemorrhage? (3)

Answer 19

1. pressure bandage
2. clamps/ligatures
3. tourniquets

Question 20

What is IV fluids used for?

Answer 20

treatment for hypovolemic shock

Question 21

What condition is this?

1. Check animal’s awareness, responsiveness, attitude​
2. Look for obvious neurological problems​

Answer 21

Dysfunction of CNS

Question 22

What are these the clinical signs of?

1. Depression
2. Seizures
3. Unconsciousness
4. abnormal pupil size
5. abnormal PLR
6. abnormal posture

Answer 22

Dysfunction of CNS

Question 23

What is this the possible causes of?

1. CNS tissue injury​

Answer 23

Dysfunction of CNS

Question 24

What are these the possible treatments for?

1. Mannitol
2. Glucocorticoids
3. immobilize animal on flat board​

Answer 24

Dysfunction of CNS

Question 25

What is this describing?

1. Recumbency
2. hyperextension of limbs/back
3. Paralysis
4. Schiff-Sherrington

Answer 25

abnormal posture

Question 26

What treatment does this?

1. Diuretic
2. Helps keep fluid out of the CNS

Answer 26

Mannitol

Question 27

When are these baseline diagnostic tests ordered?

1. Blood pressure​
2. ECG tracing​
3. PCV/TS, BUN and glucose assays (blood gases, electrolytes)​

Answer 27

after initial assessment