Chapter Review Questions for the ATLS Student Course Manual APPROVED BY: Chapter Review Questions for the ATLS Student Course Manual

Chapter Review Questions for the ATLS Student Course Manual APPROVED BY: Chapter Review Questions for the ATLS Student Course Manual Dr. Ken Evans, MD Chapter 1 Initial Assessment and Management A cast-cutter should be used to remove a trauma victim's helmet if there is evidence of a C-spine injury or if . the patient experiences pain or paresthesias during an initial attempt to remove the helmet. The "A" in ABCDE stands for . Airway; however, always be cautious about and protect the cervical spine. Any patient who is cool and tachycardic is considered to be until proven otherwise. in shock The definition of tachycardia depends on the patient's age. What heart rate is considered tachycardic for infants, toddlers/preschoolers, school age/prebuscent, and adults? Infants 160, toddlers/preschoolers 140, school age/prepubescent 120, and adults 100 Compensatory mechanisms may preclude a measurable fall in systolic blood pressure until up to % of the patient's blood volume is lost. 30% What is the trauma triad of death? The trauma triad of death is the combination of hypothermia, coagulopathy, and acidosis. Severe hemorrhage in trauma diminishes oxygen delivery, and may lead to hypothermia. Hypothermia, in turn, can halt the coagulation cascade, which exacerbates the hemorrhage. Since tissues are hypoperfused, anaerobic metabolism increases, causing the release of lactic acid and other acidic compounds. Such an increase in acidity can reduce myocardial performance, further exacerbating tissue hypoperfusion. And so, the viscious cycle continues, ultimately ending in death ... unless someone trained in ATLS intervenes. A patient may be abusive and belligerent because of , so don't just assume it's due to drugs, alcohol, or that he is a jerk. hypoxia 1 Describe the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). A patient opens her eyes only to painful stimuli, utters inappropriate words, and localizes pain. What is her GCS score? E = 2 V = 3 M = 5 Therefore, GCS = 2+3+5 = 10 Patients with a GSC of less than usually require intubation. 9 2