Trauma Study Guide Flashcards
Define Trauma:
Trauma is defined as a severe injury or damage to the body caused by an accident or violence
What are some causes of traumatic events?
Blunt, penetrating, explosive, and thermal forces are common causes of traumatic injuries
What type of equipment is most commonly utilized for trauma radiography, especially in the ER?
mobile radiography
What types of devices may need to be utilized to obtain images in trauma situations?
portables, mobile fluoroscopy units, or C arms. immobilization devices.
What are the primary responsibilities of the RT (R )?
Perform quality diagnostic imaging procedures, practice ethical radiation protection, and provide patient care
What are examples of status changes in a trauma patient?
Cool clammy skin-shock
Excessive sweating- shock
Slurred speech- head injury, stroke, drug or ethanol influence
Agitation or confusion-head injury, drug or ethanol influence
vomiting w/o abdomen complaints-head injury, hyperglycemia, drug, or ethanol overdose
loss of consciousness- shock, head injury, hyperglycemia
How would you assess status changes and how do you react to them when they occur?
Visual inspection and verbal questioning enable the radiographer to determine whether the status of the pt changes during the procedure. –Depending what the severity of the change is you need to report it to the physician. Always chart things
Speed, Accuracy and Quality are important. Define each of these
Speed-efficiency in producing quality images in the shortest possible time
Accuracy- optimum image quality/minimum repeats
Quality-quality cannot be sacrificed for speed. Do not use patient condition as an excuse for poor quality images
Be able to assess a given situation and describe how you would obtain the images. You may have to review prior lessons!!!
page 33
Why should you practice standard precautions?
you’ll be exposed to bodily fluids in the ER
What is the rule of thumb when it comes to immobilization devices that are on the patient when they get to your department?
do not remove immobilization devices without physician’s orders
How do you communicate with trauma patients? What if they are unconscious?
Talk to your patient. Explain hat you’re doing to reduce anxiety. Be reassuring with your body language and make eye contact. If unconscious don’t assume they cannot hear you.
What do you do if you have a patient with a gunshot wound?
mark entrance and exit wound
What type of exposure time is good for trauma cases? Why?
use short exposure times to eliminate possibility of imaging motion
What type of exposure time is good for trauma cases? Why?
If you change your protocol for whatever reason.. Such as doing images or replacing an image with another
a. You hear a page overhead to come to Trauma 1. Once you get to the ER the ER Doctor tells you that you have a multiple patient MVA on the way and there are at least 3 people. One adult and two children. The paramedics are concerned about head injuries on the 2 patients that were in the front seat. The one in the back seems to be okay, but is a younger child (18 months old) so they cannot get him to do anything but cry. The doctor has ordered AP chests on all 3 people. AP/Lateral Skulls on the 2 in the front seat. AP/Lateral C-spine on the 2 in the front seat. Explain how you will complete the exams on the patients, upon arrival:
Patient 1: 36 years old, on a back board, wearing a C-collar
Patient 2: 8 years old, on a back board, wearing a C-collar
Patient 3: 18 months old, carry patient, no immobilization devices
Patient 1: 36 years old, on a back board, wearing a C-collar
AP chest place IR under backboard angle tube caudal however much is necessary, take on inspiration.
AP skull- do AP axial angle tube caudal 30
AP cspine- ir underboard 15-20 cepallic. Lateral do cross table
Patient 2: 8 years old, on a back board, wearing a C-collar
Same positioning as the first but lower techniques and shield gonads
Patient 3: 18 months old, carry patient, no immobilization devices
have another worker hold the pt arms out of the way or use a blanket to immobilize. Use a small IR and low technique
b. A patient fell off of his roof while working. He landed on his feet in a pile of rubble. He has drove his self to the ER and is having severe foot pain especially in the heel region. The doctor orders a foot series bilateral and a calcaneous. You get started doing the calcaneous and he cannot flex his foot all the way, how are you going to get the image?
angle to compensate for the lack of angle on the foot
What other modalities might be used in trauma situations?
CT, mobile radiography, mobile fluoroscopy, statscan systems
What type of positioning aids might help a radiographer in a trauma situation?
Sponges, sandbags, and the creative use of tape
Which of the following would absorb more radiation and therefore require higher technical factors, internal bleeding or bowel obstruction?
internal bleeding
When localizing a foreign object you should mark what 2 point?
entrance and exit
What types of things can you do to maintain radiation protection during trauma radiography?
close collimation gonad shielding lead aprons for all personnel exposure factors that minimize pt dose announcement of impending exposure
Study table 13-1!!! Be able to describe what symptoms you will see with shock, head injury, drug /alcohol influence, airway compromise, Circulatory compromise, spinal cord/nerve damage, hip fracture, and internal bleeding from a pelvic fracture/organ laceration.
PG 29
shock- cool skin, excessive sweating, increased drowsiness, loss of consciousness, thirst
head injury-slurred speech, agitation or confusion, vomiting w/o abdominal complaint, increase drowsiness, loss of consciousness, seizures
drug/alcohol- slurred speech, agitation or confusion, vomiting
airway compromise- pale or bluish skin
circulatory compromise-bluish nail beds
spinal cord/nerve damage- complaints of tingling or numbness, unable to move area, or not able to feel your touch
hip fx- extreme eversion of the foot
internal bleeding-increasing abdominal distension and firmness to palpation
What is hypovolemic/hemorrhagic shock?
A medical condition in which there are abnormally low levels of blood plasma in the body such that the body cannot properly maintain blood pressure, cardiac output of blood, and normal amounts of fluid in the tissues. Most common type is shock.
What is vasovagal reaction?
Vasovagal attack, situational syncope, and vasovagal syncope. It is a reflex of the involuntary nervous system or a normal physiologic response to emotional stress. Patients may complain of nausea, feeling flushed (warm), and feeling light headed. They may appear pale before they lose consciousness for several seconds.
You should never assume the patient cannot what?
hear
shock
cool skin, excessive sweating, increased drowsiness, loss of consciousness, thirst
head injury
slurred speech, agitation or confusion, vomiting w/o abdominal complaint, increase drowsiness, loss of consciousness, seizures
drug/alcohol-
slurred speech, agitation or confusion, vomiting
airway compromise-
pale or bluish skin
circulatory compromise-
bluish nail beds
internal bleeding from pelvic fracture or organ laceration
increasing abdominal distension and firmness to palpation
hip fracture
extreme eversion of the foot
spinal cord/nerve damage
complaints of tingling or numbness, unable to move area, or not able to feel your touch
