Advanced Trauma Life Support Questions with Complete
Solutions
Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? -Answer- 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey (ABCDE)
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and conside
...
Advanced Trauma Life Support Questions with Complete
Solutions
Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? -Answer- 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey (ABCDE)
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer
6. Transfer if needed
7. Secondary Survey (AMPLE + all physicals)
8. Adjuncts to second Survey
9. Pt. re-evaluation
10. Definitive Care.
What is included in the Primary survey of a trauma patient? -Answer- -Airway and CSpine
-Breathing and Ventilation
-Circulation/bleeding control
-Disability (Neuro Eval)
-Exposure and Environmental control.
What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? -Answer- ECG monitoring
Urinary/Gastric Catheters
Other Monitoring (ABG, capnography)
X-ray and Dx studies.
What makes up the Secondary Survey? -Answer- AMPLE Hx and Detailed Physical
Exam
Mechanism of Injury
Head and Maxillofacial
C-spine
Chest
Abdomen
Perineum/Rectum/Vagina
Musculoskeletal
Neurologic
What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? -Answer- Ask the
pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an idea about their airway and mental
status. Failure to respond tells you there are abnormalities in ABCD.
What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma above the
clavicle or Altered mental status? -Answer- That the C-spine is compromised.
4 Steps to manage A? -Answer- Assess for patency
Establish airwayMaintain C-spine
Reinstate Proper C-spine devices.
2 steps to Breathing? -Answer- 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and palpate.
Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance, auscultate chest bilaterally.
All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail chest, Hemothorax, Open Pneumothorax.
2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension Pneumo,
attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox.
What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? -AnswerHemorrhage.
2 steps to managing C? -Answer- 1. Identify any sources of external/internal bleeding
bleeding. The four big areas for massive bleeding include: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis,
Femur Fx.
Assess Pulse quality, color of skin level of consciousness, BP.
2. Large bore IVs and obtain blood samples. Type and cross,
ABG.
Warm Fluids/blood.
T or F: Aggressive and continued volume resuscitation is not a substitute for definitive
control of hemorrhage. -Answer- True.
best way to stop shock? -Answer- 1) ID and stop the bleed -> enhances VR
2) volume repletion - but will only help if the source of the bleed is identified
- restores CO, end organ perfusion, tissue oxygenation
Do u need a surgeon in a trauma shock? -Answer- - yes!
- presence of shock in a trauma pt warrants immediate involvement of a surgeon
- arrange early transfer if not equipped to handle injuries
Blood loss Classifications? -Answer- Class 1: <15% -> no s/s -> blood donation ->
monitor
Class 2: 15-30% -> low pp, tachy/tachypn, urine output mildly affected -> crystalloids
Class 3: 30-40% -> " " and low urinary flow -> stop hemorrhhage/embolization ->
crystalloids +/- BLOOD
Class 4: >2000mL Loss= >40% -> surgery & massive transfusion
Urine output will be less.
HR will increase.
BP decreases
Respiratory Rate Increases.At what class Should you start Blood transfusing? -Answer- Class 3 or higher.
3 Steps to D? -Answer- 1. Establish consciousness w/ Glasgow score.
2. Pupil size and reaction
Blown and dilated pupils indicate intracranial hemorrhage or swelling with increased ICP
3. Lateralizing signs. If they are moving, are they moving both sides equally, are there
any signs of spinal cord injury level
What is assessed in glasgow? -Answer- eyes response= 4
Verbal response=5
Motor Response=6
At what Glasgow score should you intubate? -Answer- 8
How can you control Exposure/Environment? -Answer- Undress pt. Prevent
Hypothermia
Warmed IV fluids. Room temp maintained appropriately.
What are some adjuncts that may be used during primary survey? -Answer- ECG,
ABGs, ET CO2, FAST ultrasound, DPL, Chest and pelvic Xrays, Urinary/Gastric
Catheters
When can the Secondary survey begin? -Answer- When the Primary survey is
completed, resuscitative efforts are underway and normalization of Vital functions has
been demonstrated.
18 Steps to Secondary Survey? -Answer- 1. AMPLE Hx
2. Mechanism of injury (Blunt/penetrating?)
3. Head/Maxillofacial (lacerations, contusions, pupils, Ears, nose and mouth for blood or
CSF, eyes, CN function. Reassess GCS., Visual acuity
4. Maintain airway, Control hemorrhage, Prevent Secondary brain injury like anoxic or
cerebral edema. Remove contact lenses.
5. C-spine and neck. Tracheal deviation, blunt or penetrating trauma, Respiratory
muscles, carotid arteries for bruits, symmetry of pulses.
Obtain CT of cervical spine or a lateral, cross-table spine xray.
6. In-line immobilization and protection of C- spine.
7- Chest: Palpate, Auscultate, Percuss, check for flail chest, contusion, bleeding,
breathing.8- Chest management: Needle decompression, Chest tube, Pericardiocentesis,
Dressing any chest wounds.
9- Abdomen: Rigidness, AAA, Tenderness, Ultrasound, muscle guarding, bowel
sounds, percussion, palpation, signs of blunt or penetrating trauma.
Pelvic Xray, CT of abdomen.
10. Management of abdomen
Immediate surgery for exploratory laparotomy, Pelvic compression binder. pregnancy.
11. Perineal Assessment for contusions, lacerations or bleeding.
12. Rectal assessment
Bleeding, sphincter tone, bowell wall integrity, bony fragments, prostate position.
13. Vaginal Assessment in select pts. Presence of blood. Pregnancy. Exploratory
surgery.
14. Musculoskeletal Assessment:
Inspect extremities for blunt or penetrating trauma, deformities, lacerations, sensation,
Pulses, fractures, control any bleeding if not done yet. Inspect and palpate throacic and
lumbar spines for injury, deformity. X rays for suspected fracture sites.
15. Musculoskeletal management:
Immobilization of thoracic spine, splinting, wrap sheet around pelvis for compression
binder to help control pelvic bleeding. CONSIDER COMPARTMENT SYNDROME!!!!!!
16. Neurologic:
Determine GCS again, upper and lower extremities for motor and sensory functions.
Protect spinal cord until injury is ruled out.
17. Management:
Continue ventilation and oxygenation of pt. and maintain immobilization of entire pt.
18. Adjuncts:
Obtaining Dx tests and imaging as necessary.
What comes after the Secondary survey? -Answer- Continued monitoring for any
changes in pts. responsiveness and vital signs, urine output.
Transfer to definitive care. Direct communication provider to provider.
SHOCK -Answer- SHOCK
Definition of shock -Answer- abnormality of circulatory system that results in inadequate
organ perfusion and tissue oxygenationMCC of shock in trauma patients? -Answer- hemorrhage
2 broad categories of shock -Answer- 1. hemorrhagic
2. non-hemorrhagic
4 types of shock -Answer- CONS
C - cardiogenic
O - obstructive (tamponate, tension pneumo)
N - neurogenic
S - septic (old person think UTI)
Whats the earliest sign of hemorrhagic shock? -Answer- tachycardia
* any pt who is cool to touch and tachy = is in shock until proven otherwise
- shock -> less blood flow to skin, mm visceral circulation -> more blood for kidneys,
heart brain -> so get foley, EKG and neuro checks
- also look for pulse rate, character, resp rate, skin perfusion and PP (should be
decreased)
HR varies w/ age
- infant?
- preschool?
- school - puberty?
- adult? -Answer- - infant (brith to one) > 160
- preschool >140
- school - puberty >120. * 12 = puberty
- adult >100
old ppt can have lower thresholds b/c on BB and less response to catecholamines w/
age -> look for narrow pulse pressure!
HEAD TRAUMA -Answer- HEAD TRAUMA
Whats the primary goal of treatment for pts with suspected traumatic brain injury (TBI?)
-Answer- prevent a secondary brain injury - so adequate O2 and enough BP to perfuse
the brain
- CT scan shouldn't delay pt transfer to a trauma center that's capable of neurosurgical
intervention
What to say to neurosurgeon consult when transferring? -Answeruncal herniation -Answer- IPSI blown pupil (CN III and PSNS messed up in temporal
lobe
- contralateral hemiparesisintracranial pressure
normal?
elevated?
what happens when ICP goes up? -Answer- normal - 10mmHg
if >22 = poor outcomes
if ICP goes up -> reduces cerebral perfusion -> :( ischemia
What is the monro-kellie doctrine that helps to describe ICP dynamics -Answer- total
volume of intracranial contents remains constant -> when we exceed it -> higher ICP ->
compresses brain and cerebral perfusion and CSF ->
brain also responds to changes in partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and pp of CO2
(PaCO2) so secondary injury can occur from... -Answer- hypoxia, hypotension,
hypercapnia and iatrogenic hypocapnia
- * make every effort to enhance cerebral perfusion and blood flow by reducing high
ICP, maintain normal iintravasc volume and MAP, restore normal oxygenation and
ventilation, hematoma and other lesions that increased intracranial volume should be
evacuated early
Why do we use GCS? -Answer- to assess severity of brain injury
<8 = coma or brain injury
9-12 = moderate
13 - 15 - mild
* when there is motor asymmetry - use the best motor response to calculate score, b/c
its the most reliable predictor of outcome
What do skull fractures tell us? -Answer- it took a great deal of force to get this
When u get a contusion what test to order? -Answer- repeat CT to evaluate for changes
int he pattern of injury within 24 hours of initial scan
Traumatic brain injury includes... -Answer- diffuse injury, and focal (epidural, subdural,
contusions and intracerebral hematoma)
GCS Score? -Answer- 3 = worst
15 = best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2SIN7Mn0YA
PT hit head in sports, now is awake, conscious now oriented, had amnesia, transient
loss of consciousness, headache
GCS 13-15 -Answer- mild Brian injury
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