ATLS Written Review: Management of Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury, Exams of Nursing

Download ATLS Written Review: Management of Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! ATLS Written Review WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS RATED A+ 2024 LATEST UPDATE What is the primary goal of treating TBI? How is this done? – preventing secondary brain injury. This is done by maintaining blood pressure and providing adequate profusion. After managing ABCDEs of TBI what MUST be identified if present? How is this done? – mass lesion that requires surgical evacuation is critical! this is done with CT. NOTE: obtaining a CT should not delay patient transfer to trauma center. Which brain lobes do the following hold: 1.anterior fossa: 2.middle fossa: 3.posterior fossa: - 1. anterior fossa: frontal lobes 2. middle fossa: temporal lobes 3. posterior fossa: lower brainstem and cerebellum What are the 3 layers of the meninges? – dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater What does the dura mater adhere firmly to? – What layer of the meninges splits into two leaves as specific sites to enclose large venous sinuses? What do these sinuses do? – dura mater. these sinuses provide major venous drainage from the brain. What is the midline sinus of of the brain that splits into two sinuses: bilateral transverse and sigmoid sinus? What side are these bigger on? – The main sinus enclosed by the dura major is the midline superior sagital sinus. This splits into the sigmoid and bilateral transverse sinuses which are larger on the right side. What are the arteries that lie between the skull and the dura mater (epidural space)? – meningeal arteries. What is the most commonly injured meningeal artery and where is it located? – the skull. it is tough and middle meningeal artery. ip a rigid, non expandable does weakness occur on the same or opposite side of the uncal herniation? – OPPOSITE. the corticospinal tract of the midbrain is compressed and then crosses at the foramen magnum. state: Ipsilateral/contralateral pupillary dilation associated with hemiparesis is the classic sign of uncial herniation. – contra average ICP is mmHg. – 10 The monro-kellie doctrine states that the total volume of intracranial contents must remain constant, because the cranium is - The monro-kellie doctrine states that and may be compressed out of the skull providing a degree of buffering. – CSF and venous blood. Once the CSF and venous blood reach a certain level of displacement the ICP rapidly increases. What is the equation for CPP (cerebral perfusion pressure)? – CPP=MAP-ICP in TBI, Every effort should be made to reduce , while normalizing , , and . – ICP MAP, oxygenation, intravascular volume What GCS ranges for the following classes: 1.Minor 2.Moderate 3.Severe – 1. 13-15 2. 9-12 3. 3-8 What nerve palsy may occur with basilar skull fracture? – seventh nerve. A GCS of is accepted definition of coma? – 8 or less How do you assess a GCS of someone with asymmetric responses? – Use the best possible because this will be the best predictor of outcome Basilar fractures of the skull usually require what type of imaging? – this requires CT with bone-window setting. What are the typical clinical signs of basilar skull fractures? – 1.periorbital ecchymosis (raccoon eyes) 2. retroauriculor ecchymosis (battle sign) 3. CSF leak from nose or ears 4. 7th or 8th CN dysfunction (facial paralysis and hearing loss) What should be a primary consideration for any patient with a skull fracture, especially a linear skull fracture? – hematoma. linear skull fracture increases likelihood of intracranial hematoma by about 400x What mechanism is common with diffuse axonal injury and what is the likely outcome? – these injury often occur with high velocity or deceleration injures. They appear as diffuse cerebral hemorrhage often between grey and white matter. These are associated with variable but often poor outcomes. Epidural hematomas often occur in the area of the skull and result from a tear of the arteries. – temporal middle meningeal artery What is the classic presentation of a epidural hematoma? – a lucid interval between time of injury and neurologic a deterioration. What are more common brain injury: epidural or subdural? – subdural 30% epidural 0.5% Subdural hematoma occur from tear of . – bridging vessels of the cerebral cortex Contusion occur in % of TBI. They often occur in or lobes of brain. They may coalesce to form in as many as 20$%. – 20-30% frontal or temporal intracerebral hematoma. What is the imaging protocol for a patient with cerebral contusion? – get CT at presentation. then get another within 24 hours to assess for coalesced hematoma. What factors would require a CT in minor brain injury? – 1. suspected open skull frac 2. basilar frac 3. >2 episode vomitting 4. pt older than 65 5. LOC >5 min 6. amnesia before impact of >30 min How long after discharge should patient with mild brain injury be observed by friend? – 24 hours What type of brain injury requires serial GCS? – ALL. minor. moderate. major What imaging is done in all patient with moderate brain injury? – CT What factor of ABCDE must be monitored closely in moderate brain injury? – Airway and breathing. rapid deterioration may occur. hypoventilation and hypercapnia may ensue requiring intubation. close monitoring in ICU is required. What should immediately follow the secondary survey in major/severe brain injury? – CT. REMEMBER: CT should never delay patient transfer When assessing ABCDE of severe brain injury, when does DPL or FAST come before neuro exam? – if the systolic blood pressure cannot be brought above 100, DPL or FAST is done first as to assess source of hypotension Spinal cord injury has what result in blood pressure? – hypotension. This may also occur in terminal brain injury with medullary failure What needs to be cleared before Doll's eye testing is conducted? – cervical spine must cleared. What tests should be performed before sedation? – GCS and pupillary rxn A midline shift of mm or greater on the CT is indicative of need for neurosurgery to evacuate the clot or contusion causing the shift – 5mm Motor power on same side of body TESTS: voluntary muscle contract or involuntary response to pain What type of gastric tube should be placed when cribiform plate fx or mid face fracture is present? – orogastric. nasopharyngeal intrumentation is potentially dangerous When fluids must be administered what is the best route, and which type of catheter is best? – -peripheral route it preferred with antecubital or forearm. -if peripheral route is not accessable central vein access in any of the typical areas is acceptable. (in this case a short fat catheter should be used) What anatomical change is common in the third trimester of pregnancy? – widening of the symphasis pubis What pulmonary complication is common with blunt trauma and PaCO2 <35? – pulmonary contusion. Chest tube is indicated for which of the following? -tension pneumo -hemothorax -ruptured bronchus -pulmonary contusion -mass hemothorax – All EXCEPT pulmonary contusion What is the initial bolus for fluid resuscitation when a small child is in shock? – 20mL/kg ringers lactate What are the chest tube blood volume output parameters that would require a thoracotomy? – >1500mL immediatley evacuated OR 200mL/hr for 2-4hrs NOTE: thoractomy is not indicated unless a surgeon qualified by training and experience is present How can one determine the appropriate tube depth for pediatric intubation? – ETT tube size x 3 Ex: 4.0 ETT would be properly positioned at 12 cm from the gums In pediatrics: once past the glottic opening, the ETT should be positioned to cm below the level of the vocal cords and then carefully secured. – 2-3 cm Fluid resuscitation of an infant begins with (amount and type). And then progresses to . (amount and type) – 20mL/kg Ringers lactate. (may give up to three of these boluses initially) For the third bolus consider PRBCs at 10mL/kg For a patient who is not breathing what intervention is indicated? – orotracheal intubation What should be used when vocal chords cannot be visualized on direct laryngoscopy? – gum elastic bougie. in place when you feel clicks. can be inserted blindly beyond epiglottis What is the acronym BURP? – backward, upward and rightward pressure used in external laryngeal manipulation with orotracheal intubation what is the most common life threatening injury in children? – tension pneumothorax What is the most common acid-base disturbance in the injury child and what is it caused by? – Respiratory acidosis caused by hypoventilation. What are the options to establish an airway when bag-mask ventilation and attempts at orotracheal intubation fail for a child? – LMA, or intubating LMA, or needle cricothyroidotomy. -needle-jet insufflation is an appropriate temporizing technique for oxygenation but does not provide adequate ventilation. NOTE: surgical cric is RARELY indicated for infants an small children. usually it is an adoption when the cricothyroid membrane is easily palpable around the age of 12. A local area of frost bite should be rewarmed with what temperature and in what waY? – 40C (104F) should be done in whirlpool. not dry heat. What is the main utility of ECG during resuscitation? – detecting rhythm abnormalities What does PaCO2 of 35-40 mmHg indicate in late pregnancy? – impending respiratory failure. hypocapnia (around 30) is typical in late pregnancy due to inc tidal volume. Other than maternal death, what is the leading cause of fetal death? Symptoms? – abruptio placentae (70%) suggested by vaginal bleeding, uterine tenderness, uterine contractions, uterine tetany, and irritability of uterus (contracts when touched) What type of monitoring should be initiated in fetus of gestation age >20 wks – continuous monitoring with tocodynamometer. monitor should be done for 6 hours with no symptoms, and 24 with abruptio symptoms. What are the two extra precautions during primary survey of pregnant woman? – 1. uterus should be displaced manually to the left to relive pressure not he inferior vena cava. 2. early initiation of crystalloid fluids due to moms compensatory mechanisms masking fetal distress associated with hypovolemia T/F? Diaphragmatic breathing in a patient who is unconscious is not a sign of C-Spine injury – FALSE. diaphragmatic breathing=c-spine injury What is used to evaluate a suspected urethral injury? What is used to evaluate a bladder rupture? – retrograde urethrogram cystogram What are the abdominal structures that may not be detected on DPL? – duodenum, ascending/descending colon, rectum, biliary tract, and pancreas In a severe trauma where facial anatomy is distorted and an ETT cannot be placed, what is the next step to provide ventilation? – Next would be a transchricothyroid needle-jet insufflation. this is attached to high pressure oxygen, but can only be provided for around 30-45min due to CO2 accumulation. -the definitive after this would be a surgical chricothyroidotomy or an emergent tracheotomy. (emergent tracheotomy is not preferred because complication and time consuming) What hold urine output be maintained at after a crush injury to prevent kidney injury? - 100 mL/hr Is operation ever indicated in first hour after injury of multiple injured patient? – yes. especially if class 3 or 4 hemorrhagic shock is present What class of shock are there NO clinical signs of inadequate organ perfusion? – Class I. <14% blood volume loss. (<750mL) What is suggested if chest tube placement for suspected pneumothorax results in incomplete lung expansion and air leak with bubbling? What imaging confirms? – hypovolemic shock with fluids. NOTE: airway is OK because he is talking even though he complains of trouble breathing. What is the most important principle in the early management of someone with TBI and increasing ICP? – prevent hypotension For a trauma patient that requires a chest tube, the tube is placed and 1600mL of blood returns. What is the next step in management? – prepare for exploratory thoracotomy What are the symptoms with anterior crod syndrome? – paraplegia and loss of temperature and pain sensation, with preservation of position and vibratory senses and deep pressure sense. WORSE PROGNOSIS What are the symptoms of central cord syndrome? – disproportionate motor strength loss greater in upper extremities than lower with varying degree of sensory loss.(the arms and hands are most severely affected) What are the symptoms of Brown-Sequard syndrome? – Think of a cut from anterior to posterior of the cord. -ipsilateral motor loss, and loss of position of and vibratory sense -contralateral loss of pain/temperature sense beginning 1-2 levels down from lesion. What is the primary concern in flail chest? – pulmonary contusion resulting in hypoxia prevention of hypo perfusion and hypoxia are most important for optimal outcome in . – TBI What imaging is required for a patient displaying basilar skull fracture: hemotympanum, raccoon eyes, CSF otorrhea, battle sign? – CT! also age >65, GCS<15 2hours post injury, suspected depressed skull frac, committing more than two episodes, LOC >5 min, amnesia before impact (more than 30 min), dangerous mechanism. T/F: bony injury in pediatrics is more common than in adults? – FALSE: because bones are more pliable you will often find internal organ damage without overlying bone damage. Compare the specificity and sensitivity of DPL and CT in blunt abdominal trauma. - DPL- high sens (98), low spec CT - high sens (92-98), high spec (95)