PHTLS PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Pediatric Trauma 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anatomical feature of a child's airway makes intubation more challenging compared to an adult?
- Larger, more anterior larynx positioned higher in the neck (Correct answer)
- Smaller tongue relative to mouth size
- Wider trachea with firmer cartilage
- Lower position of the cricoid cartilage
Correct answer: Larger, more anterior larynx positioned higher in the neck
In children, the larynx is higher and more anterior, making visualization and intubation technically more difficult.
Question 2: A 4-year-old child has a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute following blunt chest trauma. How should you interpret this finding?
- Normal for this age group
- Abnormal and indicates respiratory distress (Correct answer)
- Normal compensatory response to fever
- Acceptable only if oxygen saturation is above 95%
Correct answer: Abnormal and indicates respiratory distress
A respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute in a 4-year-old is above the normal range of 20–30 and indicates significant respiratory distress.
Question 3: What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric trauma patients?
- Primary cardiac dysrhythmia
- Hypoxia secondary to respiratory failure (Correct answer)
- Tension pneumothorax
- Myocardial contusion
Correct answer: Hypoxia secondary to respiratory failure
In children, cardiac arrest in trauma is most commonly preceded by respiratory failure and hypoxia, unlike adults where dysrhythmias are more common.
Question 4: Using the Broselow tape in a pediatric trauma patient primarily helps the provider with which task?
- Estimating blood pressure ranges
- Determining weight-based drug dosing and equipment sizes (Correct answer)
- Calculating Glasgow Coma Scale scores
- Assessing capillary refill time
Correct answer: Determining weight-based drug dosing and equipment sizes
The Broselow tape uses the child's length to estimate weight and provide color-coded guidance on drug doses and appropriate equipment sizes.
Question 5: A child's blood pressure appears normal despite signs of poor perfusion after trauma. What phenomenon does this illustrate?
- Distributive shock compensation
- Robust compensatory mechanisms that maintain BP longer than adults (Correct answer)
- Neurogenic shock masking hypovolemia
- Overestimation of blood loss by providers
Correct answer: Robust compensatory mechanisms that maintain BP longer than adults
Children have strong compensatory mechanisms, particularly increased heart rate and vasoconstriction, that can maintain blood pressure until approximately 25–30% of blood volume is lost.
Question 6: Which solid organ is most commonly injured in blunt abdominal trauma in children?
- Liver
- Spleen (Correct answer)
- Kidney
- Pancreas
Correct answer: Spleen
The spleen is the most frequently injured solid organ in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma due to its relatively unprotected position and larger size relative to the abdomen.
PHTLS PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Pediatric Trauma 1
Which anatomical feature of a child's airway makes intubation more challenging compared to an adult?