Trauma Unit Flashcards
Define Triage system and its purpose
A triage system is a structure use in hospital to help categorise all incoming emergency patients using a standard rating scale
The purpose is to ensure that the level of emergency care provided is appropriate with clinical criteria
Define Triage system and its purpose
A triage system is a in hospital structure
Which categories all incoming emergency patients a
using a rating scale
to ensure that the correct level of emergency care provided is appropriate with clinical criteria
How many categories exist within the ATS and what are they
5 category’s
Cat1- immediate life -threatening
Cat2-imminently life- threatening
Cat3- potentially life-threatening/ time critical treatment/ severe pain
Cat4- potentially life-serious/ situational urgency/ significant complexity
Cat5- less urgent
What assessments are undertaken to determine a persons triage category (9)
- chief complaint
- general appearance
- airway
- breathing
- circulation
- disability
- environmental
- limited history
- co- morbidities
Define major trauma
(5 points)
- death after injury
- admission to an intensive care unit for more then 24 hours, requiring mechanical ventilation
- serious injury to 2 or more body systems
- ISS (injury severity score) over 12
- urgent surgery for inter cranial, intrathoracic, or intra-abdominal injury or fixation of pelvic or spinal fractures
Define pneumothorax
When there is a presence of air in the plural cavity between the piratical and visceral layer of the lungs. The air increases the pressure on the lungs a
Causes a collapse of the lung.
What is kinetic energy in the context of traumatic injury?
Give 1 example
The energy transferred to the body when stuck by a moving object.
For example- if a person is hit by a car, the kinetic energy of the car is transferred to the person causing damage based on the speed and mass of the vehicle
Explain velocity in the context of traumatic injury
The speed at which something is moving and its direction.
The faster the movement. Higher velocity = the greater the impact
What are 3 points used to assist with identification of major trauma
Actual time critical - abnormal vital signs in setting of trauma
Emergent Time Critical- assumed/ actual injury requires trauma specialist services
Potential Time Critical - pt has sustained a high risk mechanism associated with traumatic injury
What is range of motion
How far you can move/ stretch a joint, muscle.
What are 4 classic patterned of injury revealed via ROM testing
When does an ankle injury require imaging?
What are the 3 lat ligaments in ankle?
Which is most commonly injured?
Define hypothermia
A condition that occurs when core body temperature drops below 35’ degrees Celsius.
The body loses heat faster than it can produce it.
What is Body appropriate body
Define hypovolemic shock
A reduced volume of blood in blood vessels
3 major causes of hypovolemic shock
- External blood loss /trauma / injury
- Internal blood loss -vessels / pancreatitis/ GIB
- Fluid loss
- major burns
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dehydration
- ascites
- diuretics
4 Signs and symptoms of hypovolaemic shock
⬇️BP
^ HR
C,P,C skin
Alt GCS
Define burns
Tissue damage caused by excessive heat, electrical, radioactivity or chemicals that destroy the proteins in the skin cells
What are the 5 classification of depths of burn
- epidermal
- superficial dermal
- mid dermal
- deep dermal
- full thickness
Define shock
-A life threatening condition
-caused by a reduction of blood flow and
decrease in oxygen to cells and organs.
-inadequate perfusion
-imbalance between o2 supply and demand
- decrease in BP
- cardiac output
What is absolute fluid loss
Hypovolemic shock
- a decrease blood and body fluids leading to a decrease in preload due to loss of volume of circulating blood.
What is 3 causes of Cardiogenic shock
- heart failure-AMI ( acute myo infarction
- cardiac tamponade
- PE ( pulmonary embolism)
What is Cardiac tamponade
Compression of the heart caused by fluid collecting in the sac surrounding the heart.
Cardiac tamponade puts pressure on the heart and keeps it from filling properly.
The result is a dramatic drop in blood pressure that can be fatal.
What is cardiogenic shock
a life-threatening condition in which your heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs
What are the 5 time Critical criteria for major trauma
HR <60 or >120
RR <10 or > 30
SBP <90
Sp02. <90%
GCS <13
What is cerebral blood flow autoregulation
The brains ability to maintain constant blood flow despite changes in perfusion pressure