Multisystem Trauma and Shock Flashcards

A patient with crush injury to both legs is at highest risk for which life-threatening complication during reperfusion?

Answer: Hyperkalemia

Reperfusion of crushed muscle releases potassium, causing dangerous hyperkalemia and arrhythmias.

Which finding in a patient with suspected abdominal compartment syndrome is most diagnostic?

Answer: Bladder pressure greater than 20 mmHg with organ dysfunction

Sustained intra-abdominal (bladder) pressure above 20 mmHg with new organ dysfunction confirms abdominal compartment syndrome.

A trauma patient develops dark, tea-colored urine after a crush injury. Which complication should be suspected?

Answer: Rhabdomyolysis

Myoglobinuria from rhabdomyolysis produces tea-colored urine and can cause acute kidney injury.

Which type of shock is characterized by a low systemic vascular resistance and a high cardiac output in its early phase?

Answer: Septic (distributive) shock

Early septic shock produces vasodilation with low SVR and a compensatory high cardiac output ('warm shock').

What is the most appropriate initial fluid for resuscitation of acute hemorrhagic shock when blood products are not yet available?

Answer: Balanced crystalloid such as lactated Ringer's

Balanced isotonic crystalloids like lactated Ringer's are the initial fluid of choice while awaiting blood products.

Which intervention takes priority in a trauma patient with a tension pneumothorax and rapidly deteriorating vital signs?

Answer: Needle decompression

Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle decompression before imaging.

In a polytrauma patient, which scoring tool is commonly used to quantify overall anatomic injury severity?

Answer: Injury Severity Score (ISS)

The Injury Severity Score (ISS) sums anatomic injury grades across body regions to quantify trauma severity.