Download ATLS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2024 and more Exams Medicine in PDF only on Docsity! ATLS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2024 True or false? Although the mechanism of injury may be similar to those for the younger population, data shows increased mortality with similar severity of injury in older adults. True In the elderly population, what is decreased physiological reserve? aging is characterized by impaired adaptive and homeostatic mechanisms that caused an increased susceptibility to the stress of injury. Insults tolerated by the younger population can lead to devastating results in elderly patients. Pre-existing conditions that affect morbidity and mortality include: cirrhosis, coagulopathy, COPD, ischemic heart disease, DM What is the most common mechanism of injury in the elderly? Fall. Nonfatal falls are common in women and fractures are common in women who fall. Falls are the most common cause of TBI. In the elderly population, what are risk factors for falls? advanced age, physical impairment, history of previous fall, medication use, dementia, unsteady gait, and visual, cognitive impairment Most of elderly traffic fatalities occur in the daytime and on weekends and typically involve other vehicles. Why? Older people drive on more familiar roads and at lower speeds and tend to drive during the day. Older people have slower reaction time, a larger blind spot, limited cervical mobility, decreased hearing, and cognitive impairment. True or False? Mortality associated with small to moderate sized burns in older adults remains high True Spilled hot liquids on the leg, which in younger patients may re-epithelialize due to an adequate number of hair follicles, will result in a full thickness burn in older patients. this is true Airway-patients may have dentures that may loosen or obstruct the airway. If dentures are not obstructing the airway, leave them in place for what? bag mask ventilation, as it improves mask fitting. When preforming rapid sequence intubation, the dose of benzos, barbiturates, and other sedatives should be reduced to what percentage to minimize the risk of cardiovascular depression? 20-40% Functional changes in cardiac system include declining function, decreased sensitivity to catecholamines, atherosclerosis of coronary vessels, increased afterload, fixed heart rate (beta blockers) this results in lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for cardiac ischemia, elevated BP at baseline, and increased risk of dysrythmias. Functional changes in pulmonary system include decreased elastic recoil, reduced residual capacity, decreased gas exchange and decreased cough reflex thus they are at increased risk for respiratory failure, increased risk for pneumonia, and poor tolerance to rib fractures Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal mass, decreased GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH and aldosterone resulting in drug dosing for renal insufficiency, decreased ability to concentrate urine, increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body mass, osteoporosis, changes in joints and cartilage, c spine degenerative changes and loss of skin elastin and subcutaneous fat resulting in increased risk for fractures, decreased mobility, difficulty for oral intubation, risk of skin injury, increased risk for hypothermia, challenges in rehabiliation Functional changes in Endocrine system include decreased production and response to thyroxin and decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) resulting in occult hypothyroidism, relative hypercortisone states and increased risk of infection True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and cervical spine. Patients can have multilevel degenerative changes affecting disk spaces and posterior elements associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord compression, and myelomalacia true In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary system, placing a gauze between gums and cheek to achieve seal when using bag valve mask ventilation is okay. In addition, because aging causes a suppressed heart rate response to hypoxia...... respiratory failure may present insidiously in older adults. Age related changes in the cardiovascular system place the elderly trauma patient at significant risk for being inaccurately categorized as hemodynamically stable. Elderly patients have a fixed heart rate and fixed cardiac output, thus, their response to hypovolemia will involve increasing their systemic vascular resistance. Furthermore, since older patients have HTN, an Monitor ventilation in late pregnancy with arterial blood gas values. A PaCO2 of 35-40 mm Hg may indicate impending respiratory failure during pregnancy. Pregnant patients should be hypocapneic. Anatomical alterations in the thoracic cavity seem to account for the decreased residual volume associated with diphragmatic elevation and chest x ray reveals increased lung marking and prominence of the pulmonary vessels. oxygen consumption increases during pregnancy and its important when resuscitating injured pregnant patients to maintain adequate oxygenation above 95% In patients with advanced pregnancy, those that require a chest tube placement, where should the test tube be placed? it should be positioned higher to avoid intra-abdominal placement given the elevation of the diaphragm. Urinary system: what happens to the GFR, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels? GFR and renal blood increases during pregnancy, whereas levels of the serum creatinine and urea nitrogen fall to one half of the normal pre pregnancy levels. Glycosuria is common in pregnancy. When interpreting x ray films of the pelvis in a pregnant patient, the symphysis pubis widens 4-8 mm and the sacroiliac joint spaces increase by the 7th month keep this in mind Eclampsia Maintain a high index of suspicion for eclampsia when seizures are accompanied by HTN, proteinuria, hyperreflexia, and peripheral edema in pregnant trauma patients. This can mimic head injury. External contusions and abrasions of the abdominal wall are signs of blunt uterine trauma. true. Fetal injuries can occur when the abdominal wall strikes an object, such as the dashboard or steering wheel, or when a pregnant patient is struck by a blunt instrument. Using a shoulder restraints in conjunction with a lap belt reduces the likelihood of direct and indirect fetal injury, presumably because the shoulder belt dissipates deceleration forces over a great surface area and helps prevent the mother from flexing forward over the gravid uterus. the deployment of air bags in vehicles does not appear to increase pregnancy specific risks. Using lap belt alone allows for forward flexion and uterine compression with possible uterine rupture or placental abruption. Lap belt worn too high over uterus may produce uterine rupture. Penetrating injury to pregnant women As uterus grows larger, other viscera are protected from penetrating injury. Dense uterine musculature in early pregnancy can absorb significant amount of energy from penetrating objects decreasing their velocity and lowering risk of injury to other viscera. However, fetal outcome is generally poor with penetrating injury to uterus. carefully observe pregnant patients with even minor injuries since occasionally minor injuries are associated with placental abruption and fetal loss. True. AND to optimize outcomes for mother and baby, clinicians must assess and resuscitate the mother first and then assess the fetus before conducting second survey of the mother. Failure to displace the uterus to the left side in a hypotensive pregnant patient logroll all patients appearing clinically pregnant (second and third trimester) to the left 15-30 degrees and elevate the right side 4-6 inches and support with a bolstering device to maintain spinal motion restriction and decompression of the vena cava. Due to increases intravascular volume, pregnant patients can lose a significant amount of blood before tachycardia, hypotension, and other signs of hypovolemia occur. Thus, what do stable vital signs in a pregnant patient indicate about the fetus? The fetus may be in distress and the placenta deprived of vital perfusion while the mother's condition and vital signs appear stable. Administer crystalloid fluid resuscitation and blood to support the physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy. vasopressers should be an absolute last resort in restoring maternal blood pressure as they further reduce uterine blood flow, resulting in fetal hypoxia. What does a normal fibrinogen level indicate in a pregnant patient? Fibrinogen level may double in late pregnancy and a normal level may indicate early disseminated intravascular coagulation Most common cause of fetal death? maternal shock and maternal death. Placental abruption is second. Placental abruption is suggested by vaginal bleeding, uterine tenderness, frequent uterine contractions, uterine tetany, and uterine irritability (uterus contracts when touched). In 30% of cases of abruption, bleeding may not occur. Uterine ultrasound may be helpful in diagnosis, but is NOT definitive. Signs of uterine rupture abdominal tenderness, guarding, rigidity, or rebound tenderness. Signs of peritonitis are hard to tell due to expansion and attenuation of the abdominal wall musculature. Other findings include abdominal fetal lie (oblique or transverse lie), easy palpation of the fetal parts because of their extrauterine location and inability to readily palpate the uterine fundus when there is fundal rupture. Xray evidence of rupture include extended fetal extremities, abnormal fetal position, and free intraperitoneal air. Perform continuous fetal monitoring with a tocodynamometer beyond 20-24 weeks of gestation. Patients with no risk factors for fetal loss should have continuous monitoring for 6 hours, whereas, patients with risk factors for fetal loss or placental abruption should be monitored for 24 hours. RISK FACTORS ARE: heart rate > 110, an injury severity score >9, evidence of placental abruption, fetal heart rate >160 or less than 120, ejection during MV, and motorcycle or pedestrian collisions REMEMBER: maternal bicarbonate is low during pregnancy to compensate for respiratory alkalosis. 17-22 in pregnant patient. (non pregnant patient is 22-28) Fetal heart rate is a sensitive indicator of maternal blood volume status and fetal well being. normal range for fetus is 120-160. abnormal heart rate, repetitive decelerations, absence of accelerations or beat to beat variability and frequent uterine activity can be signs of impending maternal and or fetal decompensation (hypoxia or acidosis) and should prompt immediate obstetrical consultation. If a DPL is to be placed in a pregnant trauma patient, place the catheter above the umbilicus using the open technique. Be alert to uterine contractions which suggest early labor and tetanic contractions which suggest placental abruption. evidence of ruptured chorioamniotic membranes include amniotic fluid in vagina evidenced by a pH of 4.5 Bleeding in 3rd trimester may indicate placental abruption and impending death of the fetus, a vaginal exam is vital however, avoid repeating vaginal examination, CT abdominal imaging can be done and radiation doses less than 50mGy are not associated with fetal anomalies or higher risk of fetal loss. Admission to hospital for pregnant patients: vaginal bleeding, uterine irritability, abdominal tenderness, pain or cramping, evidence of hypovolemia, changes in or absence of fetal heart tones and or leakage of amniotic fluid With extensive placental separation or amniotic fluid embolization, widespread consumptive coagulopathy can emerge rapidly causing depletion of fibrinogen, other clotting factors, and platelets. immediately perform uterine evacuation and replace platelets, fibrinogen, and other clotting factors. As little as 0.01mL of RH+ blood will sensitize 70% of Rh- women. All pregnany RH negative trauma patients should receive RH immunoglobulin therapy unless injury is remote from the uterus (isolated distal extremity injury) Intimate partner violence in pregnant patient: injuries inconsistent with history, diminished self image, depression or suicide attempts, self abuse, frequent ED visits, symptoms suggestive of substance abuse, isolated injuries to the gravid abdomen, parter insists on being present for the interview and exam and monopolizes discussion What is the difference between burns and other injuries? The biggest difference is that the consequences of burn injury are directly linked to the extent of the inflammatory response to the injury. The larger and deeper the burn, the worse the inflammation. Flame injury is more evident than most chemical injuries. Monitor IV lines closely to ensure they do not become dislodged as the patient becomes more edematous. Regularly check ties securing ET or NG to ensure they are not too tight. Factors that increase the risk of upper airway obstruction are: increasing burn size and depth, burns to the head and face, inhalation injury, associated trauma, and burns inside the mouth. Airway can become obstructed form direct injury such as inhalation injury, but also from massive edema resulting from burn injury. How do you decontaminate burn areas? Completely remove the patient's clothing to stop burning process, but do not peel off adherent clothing. Synthetic fabrics can ignite, burn rapidly at high temps and melt into hot residue that continues to burn the patient. brush any dry chemical powder from wound. rinse with copious amounts of warm saline irrigation tense swelling of the affected compartment paresthesias or altered sensation distal to the affected compartment compartment syndrome may be present with circumferential chest and abdominal burns chest and abdominal escharotomies performed along the anterior axillary lines with cross incision at the clavicular line and the junction of the thorax and abdomen usually relieve this problem. relieve circulatory compromise in a circumferentially burned limb by eschartomy and these escharotimies are not needed within the first 6 hours. Partial thickness burns are painful when air currents pass over the burned surface. gently cover the burn with clean sheets will decrease the pain and deflect air currents. Do not break blisters or apply an antiseptic and application of cold compress can cause hypothermia. DO not apply cold water to a burn patient. electrical burns are more serious than they appear on the body surface and extremities, particularly the digits. current can travel inside blood vessels and nerves and can cause local thrombosis and nerve injury. So a severe electrical injury usually results in contracture of the affected extremity. A clenched hand with a small electrical entrance wound should alert the clinician that a deep soft tissue injury is likely much more extensive than is visable to the naked eye true. patients with severe electrical injuries require fasciotomies. Electricity can cause forced contraction of muscles, doctors need to examine patient for skeletal and muscular damage, especially for fractures of the spine and rhabdomyolysis How do you dissolve a tar burn? Use mineral oil Abuse and burns circular burns and burns with clear edges and unique patterns may reflect cigarette burns or iron. Burns on the sole of the feet usually suggest child was placed in hot water. A burn on the posterior aspect of the LE and buttocks Patient with electrical burn can develop for acute renal failure remember these burns can cause serious muscle damage without showing signs outright. Test urine for hemochromogen and administer proper volume. Assess for compartment syndrome and attach EKG leads as electrical injury can cause arrhythmias. Frostbite is due to freezing of tissue with intracellular ice crystal formation, microvascular occlusion, and subsequent tissue anoxia. first degree: hyperemia and edema are present w/o skin necrosis second degree: large clear vesicles accompany the hyperemia and edema with partial thickness skin necrosis. third degree frostbite: full thickness skin necrosis including muscle and bone with later necrosis treatment is circulating water at constant 40 degrees C or 104F until pink color and perfusion return in 20- 30 minutes. In frostbite injury, warming large areas can result in reperfusion syndrome, with acidosis, hyperK and local swelling. therefore monitor the patient's cardiac status and peripheral perfusion during rewarming. Sympathetic blockade agents and vasodilating agents have shown to be effective in altering the progression of acute cold injury false hypothermia is a core temp below 36C or 96.8F hypothermia can worsen coagulopathy and affect organ function. Rhabdomyolysis can lead to metabolic acidosis, hyperK, hypoC, and DIC. Myoglobin induced renal failure can be prevented with intravascular fluid expansion, alkalinization of the urine by IV administration of Bicarbonate and osmotic diuresis. For MSK trauma, loss of sensation in a stocking or glove distribution is an early sign of.... early sign of vascular impairment Knee dislocations can reduce spontaneously and may not present with any gross external or radiographic anomalies until a physical exam of is joint is perfromed. an ankle brachial index of less than 0.9 indicates abnormal arterial flow secondary to injury or peripheral vascular disease Blanched skin associated with fractures and dislocations can lead to soft tissue necrosis. The purpose of promptly reducing this injury is to prevent pressure necrosis of the lateral left ankle soft tissue the only reason to forgo an xray exam before treating a dislocation or fracture is the presence of vascular compromise or impending skin breakdown, often seen with fracture dislocations of the ankle Treat all patients with open fractures as soon as possible with iv antibiotics cephalosporins are necessary for all open fractures operative revascularization to an avascular extremity is important to treat emergently. muscle necrosis begins where there is a lack of blood flow for 6 hours. is there is an associated fracture deformity, correct it by gently pulling the limb out to length, realigning the fracture and splinting the injured extremity. This maneuver can restore the blood flow High risk activities that can cause compartment syndrome include: excessive exercise burns severe crush injury to muscle localized prolonged external pressure to an extremity increased capillary permeability secondary to reperfusion of ischemic muscle. Compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis and pressure measurements are only an adjunct to aid in its diagnosis. a pressure greater than 30 can cause anoxia. the absence of a palpable distal pulse is an uncommon or late finding and is not necessary to diagnose compartment syndrome. Capillary refill times are also unreliable weakness or paralysis of the involved muscle is a late sign and indicates nerve or muscle damage the lower the systemic pressure, the lower the compartment pressure that causes compartment syndrome risk of tetanus: wounds that are more than 6 hours old contused or abraded more than 1cm in depth from high velocity missiles due to burns or cold significantly contaminated ischemic tissue or denervated wounds True or false? on page 162. To exclude occult dislocation and concomitant injury, x ray films must include the joints above and below the suspected fracture site true. unless life threatening, splinting of extremity injuries should be done during the secondary survey. do not apply traction to patients with an ipsilateral tibia shaft fracture. true Laryngeal Trauma presents as hoarseness, subcutaneous emphysema, and palpable fracture true. sounds of airway obstruction and include snoring, gurgling, stridor, hoarseness, cyanosis, agitation LEMON assessment for difficult airway Look, evaluate 3-3-2 rule, mallampati, obstruction, neck mobility Do not give a nasopharyngeal airway to someone suspected of having a cribriform plate fracture. also do not give nasotracheal intubation to patients with basillar skull fracture A tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated below the vocal cords and the tube connected to oxygen enriched assisted ventilation and airway secured in place. definitive airway patients use the gum elastic bougie when vocal cords cannot be visualized on direct laryngoscopy. using the GEB has allowed for rapid intubation of nearly 80% of prehospital patients in whom laryngoscopy was difficult. A GEB inserted into the esophagus will pass its full length without resistance Reliable ways to detect proper intubation Patients suffering from hypothermia and hemorrhagic shock do not respond as expected to the administration of blood products and fluid resuscitation. IN hypothermia, coagulopathy may develop and worsen. When a patient fails to respond to fluid therapy one or more of these causes may be: tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, undiagnosed bleeding, unrecognized fluid loss, acute gastric distention, MI, diabetic acidosis, neurogenic shock Tracheobronchial injury will present with hemoptysis, cervical subcutaenous emphysema, tension pneumothorax, and/or cyanosis. A bronchoscopy can confirm the diagnosis, but these patients require immediate surgical consultation. intubation of these patients may be difficult, so they may need fiber optic assisted ET what are these signs and symptoms describing? chest pain, air hunger, tachypnea, respiratory distress, tachycardia, hypotension, tracheal deviation away from side of injury, unilateral absence of breath sounds, neck vein distention, cyanosis (late manifestation), hyperresonance on percussion tension pneumothorax. initially, you can do a needle decompression or finger thoracostomy. place tube in afterwards pain, difficulty breathing, tachypnea, decreased breath sounds on affected side, and noisy movement of air through chest wall injury these are signs and symptoms of an open pneumothorax. sterile occlusive dressing large enough to overlap the wound's edges and tap it securely on 3 sides Causes of Pulseless Electrical Activity hypovolemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, toxins, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, thrombosis Massive hemothorax is suggested when a patient is in shock and has decreased breath sounds or dullness to percussion on one side of the chest with collapsed neck veins chest tube at the fifth intercostal space at the midaxillary line and you get a return of 1500mL or 1/3 or more of the patient's blood in the chest, that indicated the need for urgent thoracotomy. persistent need for blood is an indication for a thoracotomy. color of the blood is a poor indicator of the necessity for thoracotomy. muffled heart sounds, hypotension, and distended necks veins may not always be present in cardiac tamponade. Kussmaul's sign (rise in venous pressure with inspiration when breathing spontaneously) is a true paradoxical venous pressure abnormality that is associated with tamponade The presence of hyperresonance on percussion indicated tension pneumothorax whereas presence of bilateral breath sounds is cardiac tamponade. FAST can identify cardiac tamponade. if FAST is unavailable, use echo or pericardial window. definitive treatment is surgery so thoracotomy or sternotomy. potentially life threatening injuries that should be identified on secondary survey simple pneumothorax, hemothorax, flail chest, pulmonary contusion, blunt cardiac injury, traumatic aortic disruption, traumatic diaphragmatic injury, esophageal rupture pulmonary contusion can occur with rib fractures and flail chest (two or more adjacent ribs fractured in two or more places). initial treatment includes humidified oxygen, adequate ventilation, and cautious fluid resuscitation. definitive treatment includes pain control, adequate oxygenation Blunt cardiac injury can present with hypotension, dysrhythmias, EKG changes, premature ventricular contractions, unexplained sinus tachycardia, AFib, bundle branch block, elevated central venous pressure without any obvious cause may indicate right ventricular dysfunction secondary to contusion. cardiac troponins can be diagnostic in an MI but have little role in diagnosing blunt cardiac injury. patients with a blunt injury to the heart diagnosed by conduction abnormalities are at increased risk for sudden dysrhythmias and need to be monitored for 24 hours. Traumatic aortic disruption- most survive if they have an incomplete laceration near the ligmentum arteriosum. commonly caused by vehicle collision or fall from a great height. have a high index of suspicion if history has decelerating force. Look for widened mediastinum on chest xray, obliteration of the aortic knob, deviation of the trachea to the right, depression of the L mainstem bronchus, elevation of R mainstem bronchus, deviation of the esophagus to the right, left hemothorax, presence of the pleural or apical cap, fractures of the first or second rib or scapula, widened paraspinal interface, widened paratracheal stripe. In a traumatic aortic rupture, heart rate and blood pressure control can decrease the likelihood of rupture. definitive treatment is surgery. Diaphragmatic injury-displaced bowel, stomach, and nasogastric tube on left side. The appearance of peritoneal lavage fluid in the chest tube also confirms diagnosis esophageal injury- clinical picture is a patient with a left pneumothorax or hemothorax without a rib fracture who has received a severe blow to the lower sternum or epigastrum and is in pain or shock out of proportion to the apparent injury presence of mediastinal air also suggests diagnosis and definitive treatment is direct repair of the injury. injuries to the retroperitoneal structures are difficult to recognize because they occur deep within the abdomen and may not initially present with signs or symptoms of peritonitis. the retroperitoneal space is NOT sampled by DPL or FAST physical exam findings suggestive of a pelvic fracture include: ruptured urethra, scrotal hematoma or blood at the urethral meatus, discrepancy in limb length and rotational deformity of a leg w/o obvious fracture. use pelvic binder that is centered at the greater trochanters rather than over the iliac crests. signs of urethral injury include: blood at the uretheral meatus, ecchymosis or hematoma of the scrotum and perineum. Palpation of the prostate gland is NOT a reliable sign of urethral injury. a retrograde urethorgram is mandatory when the patient is unable to void, requires a pelvic binder, or has blood at the meatus, scrotal hematoma, or perineal ecchymosis. confirm an intact urethra before inserting a urinary catheter. DPL: Aspiration of gastrointestinal contents, vegetable fibers, or bile through the lavage mandate laparotomy. Aspiration of 10cc or more of blood in hemodynamically abnormal patients requires laporotomy. performed rapidly, invasive procedure sensitive for detecting intraperitoneal hemorrhage low specificity requires gastric and urinary decompression not repeatable a positive DPL is an indication for laparotomy contraindications include previous abdominal operations, morbid obesity, advanced cirrhosis, pre-existing coagulopathy. FAST noninvas and can be done rapidly repeatable does not assess retroperitoneal structures. obesity can degrade images obtained by FAST indications for a laparotomy: Blunt abdominal trauma with hypotension, positive FAST hypotension with an abdominal wound that penetrates anterior fascia gunshot wounds that traverse the peritoneal cavity evisceration bleeding from stomach, rectum, or GU tract peritonitis free air of hemidiaphragm contrast CT showing rupture GI tract, bladder injury Aspiration of gastrointestinal contents, vegetable fibers, or bile through the lavage mandate laparotomy. Aspiration of 10cc or more of blood in hemodynamically abnormal patients requires laparotomy. Diaphragm injuries elevation or blurring of the hemidiaphragm, hemothorax, an abnormal gas shadow that obscures the hemidiaphragm, or a gastric tube in the chest