ATLS - Trauma Flashcards
(124 cards)
ATLS
Multiple casualty
- More than one patient injured, but the number of patients
and the severity of injury does not exceed the capacity of the
hospital to render care - Those with life-threatening and multi-system injuries are
treated first
ATLS
Mass casualty
- Number of patients and severity of injury exceed capability of facility and staff
- Patients with the greatest chance of survival and requiring
the least expenditure of time, equipment and personnel are
treated first
ATLS
Triage
Involves the sorting of patients based on their needs for treatment and the resources available to provide that treatment
Primary triage
AKA
Triage sieve
Primary triage
Done in and the purpose
- Done at the site of the accident
- Seperate the dead from the walking and injured
Secondary triage
AKA
Triage sort
Secondary triage
Done at
the recieving station at the hospital bu the most senior doctor ( chief surgeon)
Secondary triage
The categories
- P1/T1/category 1/ RED
- P2/T2/Category 2/ YELLOW
- P3/T3/Category 3/ GREEN
- P4/T4/Category 4/ BLACK
Secondary triage
Category 1
Critical, cannot wait
Secondary triage
Category 2
Urgent, can wait for a short period of time ~30 minutes
Secondary triage
Category 3
Less serious injuries, can wait for a longer duration
Secondary triage
Category 4
Severe multi- system injury, not expected to survive
Trauma deaths
First peak causes of deaths
Lacerations on the
* Brain
* Brainstem
* Aorta
* Cord
* Heart
Trauma deaths
Second peak
- Epidural hemorrhage
- Subdural hemorrhage
- Hemopneumothorax
- Pelvic fractures
- Long bone fractures
- Abdominal injuries
Trauma deaths
Third peak
- Sepsis
- Multiple organ failure
Trauma deaths
Golden hour
can save 80% of patients
Trimodal pattern of trauma deaths
- 50% die within
- 30% die within
- 20% die within
- within seconds to mins
- within mins to hours
- within hours to days ( upto 6 weeks)
Trimodal pattern of trauma deaths
The main emphasis of Mx is on
the second peak - epidural, subdural, hemopneumothorax, pelvic fractures, long bone fractures, abd injuries
Trimodal pattern of trauma deaths
Main two goals in the second peak
- Prevent hypoxia
- Prevent hypovolemia
ATLS
The goals of the ATLS protocol
- To identify and treat most life threatening injuries first and treat
them as we identify itself - Lack of a definitive diagnosis and a detailed history should not slow
the application of indicated treatment for life threatening injury - Most time-critical interventions should be performed early
- Aims to maximize the window of golden hour
ATLS
Primary survery
cABCDE
ATLS
cABCDE
- Control of massive external haemorrhage
- Airway maintenance and cervical spine protection
- Breathing and ventilation
- Circulation with haemorrhage control
- Disability: Neurologic status
- Exposure/ Environmental control
Control of massive external hemorrhage
massive external hemorrhage?
Massive arterial bleeding
Control of massive external hemorrhage
Done how
- use packs and pressure directly on the bleeding wound
- if failed, use a tourniquet proximal to the wound