Trauma & Procedural Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real ABEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Trauma & Procedural Skills flashcards as text
Which of the following is the preferred initial airway management in a patient with suspected C-spine injury and a GCS of 6?
Answer: Orotracheal RSI with inline stabilization
RSI with manual inline cervical stabilization is the standard approach for airway management in trauma patients with suspected C-spine injury.
A patient with a gunshot wound to the right upper quadrant has a BP of 90/60 despite 2L NS. FAST shows free fluid in Morison's pouch. What is the next step?
Answer: Emergent operative laparotomy
Hemodynamically unstable penetrating abdominal trauma with positive FAST requires emergent surgical intervention.
During a difficult airway attempt, the patient becomes apneic and you cannot intubate or ventilate. What is the definitive rescue procedure?
Answer: Surgical cricothyrotomy
Surgical cricothyrotomy is the definitive rescue airway in the cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate scenario.
A patient with pelvic fracture and hemodynamic instability has a negative FAST. What is the next most appropriate intervention?
Answer: Pelvic binder application and angioembolization or operative packing
Pelvic binder reduces pelvic volume and hemorrhage; angioembolization or preperitoneal packing addresses arterial and venous bleeding.
What is the most common cause of preventable death in penetrating extremity trauma?
Answer: Compressible hemorrhage
Compressible extremity hemorrhage is the leading preventable cause of death in combat and civilian penetrating trauma.
In a trauma patient with a suspected thoracic aortic injury after deceleration, which initial imaging study is most appropriate?
Answer: Plain chest X-ray followed by CT angiography of the chest
CXR serves as the initial screen; CT angiography is the definitive study for blunt thoracic aortic injury.
Which finding during FAST examination suggests cardiac tamponade?
Answer: Pericardial effusion with diastolic right heart collapse
Pericardial effusion with diastolic collapse of the right ventricle on FAST indicates tamponade physiology.