Sudden Death Trauma Scenarios
The Cases:
Ambulance Message / Handover: M=mechanism, I=injury, S=signs & T=treatment Medical Assessment: A=airway, B=breathing, C=circulation, D=neurological defecit
An unknown 40 year old male has been hit by a Truck!
Initial Intervention:
The patient was intubated by the airway doctor to protect the airway and to allow delivery of 100% Oxygen. An Oro-gastric tube was passed at the same time.
A Left Chest drain was inserted by the surgical registrar. It drained 200mls of frank blood. A CXR was obtained post-insertion, which revealed extensive left lung contusion and a small residual pneumothorax. (See CXR).
00:50 - Despite these interventions the patient is still only saturating at 88%! There are no new chest findings.
What would you do next?
Would you accept that saturation on the basis of decreased peripheral perfusion and move onto fluid resucitation and haemorrhage control?
What happened next: Page 3
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