Trauma / Surgery Flashcards
When should preoperative creatinine levels be checked?
patients >40yrs old
Best determinant of bleeding tendencies during surgery?
coagulation response to minor trauma
In what patients are silent MIs seen more commonly?
Elderly and diabetics
When is a pregnancy test indicated for preoperative evaluation of a patient?
All women of childbearing age
What are classic factors associated with higher risk of DVT?
Virchow’s Triad:
- stasis
- intimal damage
- hypercoagulability
What is the preferred DVT prophylaxis for trauma patients, or those with abdominal or pelvic cancer?
Lovenox (enoxaparin)
True / False: enoxaparin dose needs to be adjusted for renal impairment
True
What should always be ruled out with evaluation of diarrhea and enteral feedings?
C Diff
Leading cause of death between 1-44 years old?
unintentional and violence-related injuries
Leading cause of accidental death in the US?
motor vehicle accidents
Signs of cardiac tamponade?
Beck’s Triad:
- JVD
- Hypotension
- muffled heart sounds
How are most cases of penetrating chest trauma managed?
tube thoracotomy
Test of choice for detecting intra-abdominal injury?
FAST exam (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma)
True / False: the presence of a pulse distal to site of vascular injury rules out significant vascular injury?
False
Evaluating a head trauma patient, you notice rhinorrhea, otorrhea, ecchymosis of lids (raccoon eyes) and ecchymosis behind ears (Battle’s sign) - what do you suspect?
basilar skull fracture
Injury to what artery is the usual cause of epidural hematomas?
middle meningeal artery
What is common mental status presentation of a patient with epidural hematoma?
Brief period of unconsciousness, followed by a lucid interval
Tried of signs indicative of brain herniation?
Coma
Fixed / dilated pupils
decerebrate posturing
Most common type of burn?
scald burns
How are first degree burns characterized?
erythema, tenderness and NO blisters
A burn victim presents with thin-walled, fluid-filled blisters that are moist, blanch with pressure and are painful - what do you suspect?
second degree burn
Characteristic appearance of third degree burn?
dry, with white / leathery or charred appearance, withOUT sensation
When estimating body surface percentage for burns, what percentage does the patient’s palm represent?
1%
Most commonly used topical burn ointment?
sulfadiazine (silvadene)
