PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Pediatric Trauma Flashcards
6 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 6 PHTLS - Prehospital Trauma Life Support Pediatric Trauma flashcards as text
In a child with an isolated closed head injury and increased intracranial pressure, what ventilation rate is recommended to avoid hyperventilation?
Answer: Ventilate at the normal rate for the child's age
Routine hyperventilation is harmful because it causes cerebral vasoconstriction and ischemia; ventilate at normal age-appropriate rates unless herniation is imminent.
What is the recommended intraosseous (IO) access site for a 3-year-old child when IV access cannot be established?
Answer: Proximal tibia
The proximal tibia (anteromedial surface, 1–2 cm below the tibial tuberosity) is the preferred primary IO site for children under 6 years.
When assessing a pediatric patient for signs of shock, which finding is the EARLIEST indicator?
Answer: Tachycardia
Tachycardia is the earliest compensatory response to hypovolemia in children, appearing well before hypotension or altered mental status.
A child involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision has abrasions across the lower abdomen in a seatbelt distribution. Which injury should the provider be most concerned about?
Answer: Lumbar spine fracture and hollow viscus injury
The 'seatbelt sign' in children is strongly associated with lumbar flexion-distraction (Chance) fractures and hollow viscus injuries such as bowel perforation.
For a 6-year-old child requiring fluid resuscitation after trauma, what is the initial IV/IO fluid bolus volume per PHTLS guidelines?
Answer: 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid
PHTLS recommends an initial bolus of 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid (normal saline or lactated Ringer's) for pediatric trauma patients in shock.
Which mechanism of injury is the leading cause of traumatic death in children in the United States?
Answer: Motor vehicle crashes
Motor vehicle crashes remain the single leading cause of traumatic death in children in the US, followed by drowning and firearm injuries.
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