Surgery Flashcards
(208 cards)
What is the initial step in management in any patient with acute trauma or change in mental status?
assess and establish an airway (if necessary)
What is the best initial way to establish an airway in a trauma/ change in mental status patient?
orotracheal intubation
What is the best initial way to establish an airway in a trauma pt with cervical spine injury?
use of flexible bronchoscope
but can also perform orotracheal intubation with manual cervical immobilization
What is the best initial way to establish an airway in a trauma pt with extensive facial trauma and/ or bleeding into the airway?
cricothyroidotomy
can also perform percutaneous tracheostomy
What is the best initial step in management of a trauma or mental status change pt with an oxygen saturation of less than 90%?
obtain arterial blood gas (ABG)
as well as determined likely cause of hypoxia
A pt presenting after a chest trauma with hypotension, distended neck veins, elevated CVP (central venous pressure), enlarged heart on CXR, electrical alternans on EKG, pulsus paradoxus and normal breath sounds most likely suffers from …
Pericardial Tamponade
What is the best initial treatment for pericardial tamponade?
pericardiocentesis
place needle to remove fluid
What is the next best step in management for a pt with pericardial tamponade if pericardiocentesis is unsuccessful?
pericardial window
A pt presenting after chest trauma with hypotension, distended neck veins, elevated CVP (central venous pressure), difficulty breathing, tracheal deviation, absent breath sounds and hyper-resonance to percussion most likely suffers from …
Tension Pneumothorax
What is the best initial treatment for a pt with tension pneumothorax?
insert large bore needle or IV catheter into pleural space (at second intercostal space) followed by chest tube placement
What is the best way to control the site of the bleeding in an abdominal trauma (or any trauma)?
apply direct pressure to visible sites
avoid blind clamping or tourniquet
What is the best next step in the management of a pt with abdominal trauma and hypovolemic shock who is hemodynamically unstable?
fluid resuscitation (2 large bore IVs in periphery and/or central venous access)
(if pt responds promptly, then unlikely still bleeding)
What are the five things that should be done in preparation for an immediate exploratory laparotomy in a trauma pt?
- setup 2 large bore IV lines
- give floods and blood
- type and screen
- insert foley catheter
- administer IV antibiotics
What is the best way to provide fluid resuscitation in a child (less than 6 years old) who is hemodynamically unstable with poor access?
intraosseous cannulation in proximal tibia (with Ringer’s lactate at 20 ml/kg)
A pt presenting with hypotension, tachycardia, is warm and flushed and has a recent history of medication use (penicillin)/ spinal anesthesia/ exposure to allergen (bee sting) most likely suffers from …
Vasomotor Shock (Distributive Shock)
What is the first step in management of a pt presenting with vasomotor shock (distributive shock)?
vasoconstrictors and fluids
True or False. An object embedded in a pt should be removed in the emergency room or at the scene of the accident.
False
all impaled objects are to be removed in the OR under a controlled setting
What is the next step in management of a pt with an asymptomatic head injury that lead to a closed skull fracture (linear skull fracture) and scalp laceration?
clean laceration
surgery is not needed
What is the next step in management of a pt with an asymptomatic head injury that lead to a comminuted, depressed fracture and scalp laceration?
Surgical repair/ craniotomy (for comminuted/ depressed skull fracture)
What is the best initial step in management of a pt with head trauma and loss of consciousness (or other symptoms) and normal neuro exam?
CT of head and neck without contrast
if normal, can discharge with 24 hour supervision
What medications should be given to all patients with open skull fractures? (2)
- tetanus toxoid
2. prophylactic antibiotics
A pt presenting with ecchymosis around both eyes, ecchymosis behind the ear or clear fluid dripping from the ear or nose after a head trauma most likely suffers from …
Basal Skull Fracture
raccoon eye- ecchymosis around eyes; Battle’s sign- ecchymosis behind ear
What is the best management for a pt presenting with signs/ symptoms of basal skull fracture?
CT scan of head and neck (shows basal skull fracture)
no treatment of CSF leak needed
A pt presents with a head injury to the side of the head (temporal region) resulting in brief loss of consciousness and then return to baseline and CT scan shows a lens shaped hemorrhage in the brain most likely suffers from …
Epidural Hematoma
middle meningeal artery damage