Course overview

Question 1

What is the trimodal death distribution?

Answer 1

Three peaks in patient death following from trauma.
First peak, second peak and third peak.

Question 2

First peak of Trimodal death distribution

Answer 2

Death in seconds to minutes of injury.

Commonly result from apnoea - very rarely able to prevent these deaths.

Question 3

Second peak of Trimodal death distribution

Answer 3

Death in minutes to several hours after injury.

Commonly result from:
- Dural / epidural haematomas
- Liver lacerations
- Pneumo/haemothorax
- Pelvic fractures

Question 4

Third peak of Trimodal death distribution

Answer 4

Several days to weeks after injury.

Commonly result from:
- Sepsis
- Organ dysfunction