Trauma in Special Populations Flashcards

Perimortem cesarean delivery should be initiated within what time frame of maternal cardiac arrest?

Answer: 4 minutes of arrest, delivery by 5 minutes

Initiate within 4 minutes, deliver by 5 minutes when fetus is viable (>24 weeks). Improves both maternal and fetal survival.

An obese trauma patient (BMI 45) with hypotension. Most significant assessment challenge?

Answer: Unreliable physical examination due to body habitus

Obesity significantly impairs physical examination, particularly abdominal assessment, requiring lower threshold for imaging.

In a 6-year-old with blunt abdominal trauma, which organ injury pattern is more common compared to adults?

Answer: Renal injury

Renal injuries are more common in children due to less perirenal fat, relatively larger kidneys, and more mobile position.

A chronic alcoholic patient is involved in an MVC. Most important assessment consideration?

Answer: Alcohol may mask head injury and shock signs, requiring lower imaging threshold

Intoxication masks pain and alters mental status, requiring liberal CT imaging and high suspicion for occult injuries.

Which unique consideration affects fluid resuscitation in pregnant trauma patients?

Answer: 30-50% hypervolemia means significant blood loss occurs before shock signs appear

Pregnancy increases blood volume 30-50%, masking hemorrhage. The fetus may become hypoperfused before maternal shock signs appear.

In geriatric trauma, which mechanism is the leading cause of death?

Answer: Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in patients over 65.