Trauma triad of death

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

• Refers to the interplay of three factors that influence patients who have experienced major trauma, blood loss, or prolonged exposure to the elements

Question 2

Hypothermia

Answer 2

• Secondary to exposure or maybe massive blood loss starts to disrupt clot formation and oxygen delivery
• Hypoperfusion then leads to anaerobic energy production which leads to increased acid production (metabolic acidosis) which can damage tissues and reduce cardiac outpout, further impacting perfusion

Question 3

Acidosis

Answer 3

• Main cause is poor perfusion to the tissues
• As a trauma patients perfusion worsens, lactic acid rapidly accumulates in the tissue
• This causes the pH to drop, resulting in severe metabolic acidosis

Question 4

Coagulopathy

Answer 4

• Factors of the clotting cascade start to work less effectively and shut down when they operate outside of the normal body temperatures