Section 1 Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is the primary objective of Emergency Medicine?
The primary objective is to provide rapid assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute illnesses and injuries.
What is the ‘Golden Hour’ in emergency medicine?
The critical first hour after a traumatic injury where prompt medical treatment significantly improves survival rates.
What are the key principles of the primary survey in emergency care?
ABCDE: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.
What does the ABCDE approach help achieve in emergency medicine?
It helps prioritize life-threatening conditions and guides immediate treatment.
What is triage in the context of emergency medicine?
Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their condition.
What are the common triage categories in emergency settings?
Immediate (life-threatening), Urgent (potentially serious), Non-urgent (minor injuries), and Expectant (unlikely to survive).
What is the purpose of the secondary survey in emergency assessment?
A head-to-toe examination to identify all injuries after life-threatening conditions are stabilized.
What is the significance of ‘Mechanism of Injury’ in trauma assessment?
Understanding how the injury occurred helps predict possible injuries and guides examination.
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) used for?
To assess a patient’s level of consciousness based on eye, verbal, and motor responses.
What are the three components of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
Eye Opening (1-4), Verbal Response (1-5), Motor Response (1-6).
What is the purpose of administering oxygen in emergency settings?
To optimize tissue oxygenation and prevent hypoxia during acute illness or trauma.
Why is immobilization important in trauma patients?
To prevent further injury, especially to the spinal cord during transport and treatment.
What are the critical signs of shock?
Hypotension, tachycardia, cold/clammy skin, altered mental status, and decreased urine output.
What is the role of defibrillation in emergency medicine?
To restore normal heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
What are the typical steps in Advanced Life Support (ALS)?
Airway management, breathing support, circulation monitoring, and defibrillation if indicated.
What is the purpose of fluid resuscitation in trauma care?
To restore circulating blood volume and improve tissue perfusion.
What is the purpose of a trauma checklist?
To ensure that all critical steps are followed during emergency treatment.
How is cervical spine stabilization achieved during trauma assessment?
Using a rigid collar, manual inline stabilization, and avoiding head movement.
What is the difference between blunt and penetrating trauma?
Blunt trauma is caused by impact without breaking the skin, while penetrating trauma involves objects piercing the body.
Why is continuous monitoring important in emergency care?
To detect changes in the patient’s condition promptly and adjust treatment as needed.
What are the indications for an emergency thoracotomy?
Severe chest trauma with cardiac arrest or massive hemorrhage not responding to standard resuscitation.
What is the purpose of wound irrigation in emergency care?
To remove debris and reduce the risk of infection.
What is compartment syndrome, and why is it a concern in emergency settings?
A condition where pressure within the muscles builds up, cutting off blood supply; it can lead to permanent damage if untreated.
What is a FAST scan used for in emergency medicine?
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is used to quickly identify internal bleeding.
