Patient Evaluation & Stabilization Flashcards

You arrive on scene to find a patient with a stab wound to the neck. Your PRIMARY concern is:

Answer: Airway compromise and vascular injury

Neck wounds can rapidly compromise the airway from hematoma expansion and may involve major vessels causing life-threatening hemorrhage.

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale assesses which three findings?

Answer: Facial droop, arm drift, speech abnormality

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale uses facial droop, arm drift, and abnormal speech to rapidly identify stroke.

A patient with suspected tension pneumothorax has an SpO2 of 78% and absent breath sounds on the right. What is your IMMEDIATE intervention?

Answer: Perform needle thoracostomy

Tension pneumothorax with hypoxia and absent breath sounds requires immediate needle thoracostomy to release trapped air.

When performing a detailed head-to-toe assessment, you note Battle's sign. This indicates:

Answer: Basilar skull fracture

Battle's sign (bruising over the mastoid process) is a classic delayed indicator of basilar skull fracture.

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of the AVPU scale during the primary assessment?

Answer: Rapidly categorize the patient's level of consciousness

The AVPU scale (Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive) provides a rapid, simple assessment of consciousness level during the primary survey.

You find a patient with signs of anaphylaxis: hives, wheezing, and hypotension. After epinephrine administration, your NEXT priority is:

Answer: Aggressive fluid resuscitation and preparation for repeat epinephrine

After initial epinephrine, IV fluid bolus and readiness for repeat dosing are essential because anaphylactic shock can be biphasic and refractory.

Pulsus paradoxus greater than 10 mmHg during your assessment is a classic sign of:

Answer: Cardiac tamponade

An exaggerated drop in systolic BP during inspiration (pulsus paradoxus >10 mmHg) is a hallmark of cardiac tamponade.