ATLS protocols — Flashcards

Flashcard 71: In a hemodynamically stable patient, the first-line imaging for **Zone 1 and 3** penetrating neck trauma is _____.

Answer: CT angiography (CTA)

Extra: **Neck Trauma Zones:** - **Zone 1**: Below the cricoid cartilage (high risk for great vessel and aero-digestive injury). - **Zone 2**: Between the cricoid and the angle of the mandible. - **Zone 3**: Above the angle of the mandible. Modern management for stable patients in all zones has shifted toward **CT Angiography (CTA)** as the initial diagnostic study. Unstable patients require immediate surgical exploration.

Flashcard 72: In a patient with a penetrating neck injury and **no** soft or hard signs, what is the preferred next step in management? _____

Answer: CT angiography (CTA)

Extra: Hard signs (e.g., expanding hematoma, pulsatile bleeding, shock, air bubbling) require immediate surgical exploration. https://onlinemeded.org/spa/surgery-trauma/neck/acquire

Flashcard 73: What is one possible adverse effect of fluid resuscitation in a patient presenting with blunt head trauma? _____

Answer: Increases the rate of epidural hematoma expansion

Extra:  https://onlinemeded.org/spa/surgery-subspecialty/neuro-brain-bleeds/acquire?ref=anki 

Flashcard 74: Imaging technique for evaluating neck trauma when there are no hard signs? _____

Answer: CT angiography (evaluate vessels)

Extra:  https://onlinemeded.org/spa/surgery-trauma/neck/acquire?ref=anki 

Flashcard 75: What is the initial management for a tension pneumothorax in a hemodynamically unstable patient? _____

Answer: Needle decompression → tube thoracostomy

Extra:  https://onlinemeded.org/spa/surgery?ref=anki 

Flashcard 76: What is the next step in management for a patient with penetrating abdominal trauma without peritonitis, evisceration, and hemodynamic instability? _____

Answer: CT

Extra:  https://onlinemeded.org/spa/surgery?ref=anki 

Flashcard 77: If blood is seen at a patients _____, you should suspect a urethral injury

Answer: urethral meatus

Flashcard 78: A _____ is indicated when an emergency airway is required or orotracheal / nasotracheal intubation is unsuccessful / contraindicated

Answer: cricothyrotomy

Flashcard 79: Is placement of a foley (urethral) catheter contraindicated in urethral injury?_____

Answer: Relatively contraindicated

Flashcard 80: An entire leg burn is _____% of the body surface area.

Answer: 18