Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma Flashcards
7 cards from real PHTLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma flashcards as text
A patient involved in a high-speed MVC has a seatbelt sign across the lower abdomen. Which organ is MOST likely injured?
Answer: Small bowel
The seatbelt sign indicates compression injury to the small bowel, which is the most commonly injured hollow organ from lap belt trauma.
Which of the following is the MOST reliable early sign of significant intra-abdominal hemorrhage in the field?
Answer: Signs of shock with a mechanism consistent with abdominal injury
Shock with a consistent mechanism is the most reliable early indicator because physical signs like rigidity and distension often develop late.
During assessment of a pelvic fracture patient, you apply a commercial pelvic binder. At what anatomic landmark should the binder be centered?
Answer: Greater trochanters
The pelvic binder should be centered over the greater trochanters to effectively compress the pelvic ring and tamponade hemorrhage.
A patient has suspected bowel evisceration through an abdominal wound. The correct prehospital management is to:
Answer: Cover with a moist sterile dressing and do not replace organs
Eviscerated organs should be covered with a moist sterile dressing to prevent desiccation and never replaced in the field.
Which retroperitoneal organ is MOST commonly injured in blunt abdominal trauma?
Answer: Kidney
The kidneys are the most commonly injured retroperitoneal organs due to their size and position, often presenting with flank pain and hematuria.
A patient has a penetrating abdominal injury with an impaled object. The correct action is to:
Answer: Shorten the object if it is very long, then stabilize it in place
In the prehospital setting, long impaled objects may be carefully shortened for extrication but must then be stabilized in place without removal.
In a patient with suspected pelvic ring disruption and hemorrhagic shock, which intervention should be performed FIRST after airway management?
Answer: Application of a pelvic binder
Applying a pelvic binder is the priority mechanical intervention to reduce pelvic volume and tamponade life-threatening hemorrhage.
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