20 Questions
What is a common sign of abdominal injury?
Pain or cramps in abdominal or pelvic region
What should you do if a patient has an open wound of the abdomen?
Call for medical help immediately
Why is it important to obtain a thorough medical history?
To identify potential underlying conditions
What is a characteristic of a patient with a rigid, distended, and/or tender abdomen?
They are lying still with their legs drawn up
What is a complication of abdominal injuries?
Life-threatening emergencies
What should you do when caring for a patient with a closed abdominal injury?
Perform a thorough assessment of the abdomen
What is a sign of shock in a patient with an abdominal injury?
Rapid, shallow breathing
What is a characteristic of abdominal evisceration?
Protrusion of intestines through the abdominal wall
Why is it important to palpate all quadrants of the abdomen?
To assess for injury
What should you allow a patient with an abdominal injury to do?
Maintain a position of comfort
What may be a result of blunt trauma to the abdomen or pelvis?
Pain or cramps in the abdominal or pelvic region
What should be done when assessing a patient with a closed abdominal injury?
Allow the patient to maintain a position of comfort
What is a characteristic of a patient with an abdominal injury?
Lying still with legs drawn up
What is a sign of a life-threatening emergency in abdominal injuries?
Bleeding
What should be done if a patient has an open wound of the abdomen with protrusion of intestines?
Do not attempt to place the spilled abdominal contents back into the open wound
Why is it important to perform a thorough assessment of the abdomen?
To diagnose the patient's condition
What is a complication of abdominal evisceration?
Infection
What is a sign of shock in a patient with an abdominal injury?
Rapid pulse
What should be done when palpating the abdomen of a patient with a closed abdominal injury?
Palpate all quadrants
What is a characteristic of generalized abdominal pain?
Pain in the entire abdominal region
Study Notes
Chest Injuries
- Crepitus: a grating sound when bones rub together
- Closed chest injuries can occur due to blunt force trauma, such as falls, contact sports, vehicle collisions, and blasts
- Closed chest injury management involves:
- Performing primary assessment
- Ensuring ABCs are intact
- Providing positive pressure ventilations if breathing is inadequate
- Removing clothing over the area where there is pain
- Observing and palpating for signs of deformity
- Administering oxygen per local protocols
- Splinting the chest using bulky dressings or towels
- Placing the patient in a position of comfort, if no suspected spine injury
- Caring for shock
- Types of closed chest injuries include:
- Damage to ribs
- Pneumothorax (chest cavity filling with air from a ruptured lung)
- Hemothorax (blood from damaged soft-tissues and vessels entering the chest cavity)
- Flail chest (results when two or more ribs are broken in two or more places)
Open Chest Injuries
- Open chest injuries can occur due to penetrating injuries, such as bullet, knife, or glass wounds
- Open chest injury management involves:
- Immediately sealing the wound with something that prevents air from entering
- Taking appropriate Standard Precautions
- Placing an occlusive dressing directly over the wound and holding it in place
- Providing high-flow oxygen
- Caring for shock
- Types of open chest injuries include:
- Sucking chest wound (open chest wound characterized by a sucking sound each time the patient inhales)
- Tension pneumothorax (air builds up inside the chest cavity, causing excessive pressure on one side of the chest)
Impaled Chest Wounds
- Impaled objects must be stabilized and left in place
- Take appropriate Standard Precautions
- Perform primary assessment
- Ensure ABCs are intact
- Assist ventilations as appropriate
- Provide high-flow oxygen per local protocol
- Provide care for shock
- Initiate immediate transport
Abdominal Injuries
- Abdominal injuries can produce life-threatening emergencies
- Signs and symptoms can be delayed for hours or days
- Types of abdominal emergencies include:
- Bleeding
- Constipation
- Pain or cramps in the abdominal or pelvic region
- Abdominal injury management involves:
- Performing thorough assessment of the abdomen
- Palpating all quadrants
- Exposing the abdomen to observe for signs of injury
- Allowing the patient to maintain a position of comfort
- Abdominal evisceration is an open wound of the abdomen characterized by protrusion of intestines through the abdominal wall
- Never attempt to place spilled abdominal contents back into the open wound.
Chest Injuries
- Crepitus: a grating sound when bones rub together
- Closed chest injuries can occur due to blunt force trauma, such as falls, contact sports, vehicle collisions, and blasts
- Closed chest injury management involves:
- Performing primary assessment
- Ensuring ABCs are intact
- Providing positive pressure ventilations if breathing is inadequate
- Removing clothing over the area where there is pain
- Observing and palpating for signs of deformity
- Administering oxygen per local protocols
- Splinting the chest using bulky dressings or towels
- Placing the patient in a position of comfort, if no suspected spine injury
- Caring for shock
- Types of closed chest injuries include:
- Damage to ribs
- Pneumothorax (chest cavity filling with air from a ruptured lung)
- Hemothorax (blood from damaged soft-tissues and vessels entering the chest cavity)
- Flail chest (results when two or more ribs are broken in two or more places)
Open Chest Injuries
- Open chest injuries can occur due to penetrating injuries, such as bullet, knife, or glass wounds
- Open chest injury management involves:
- Immediately sealing the wound with something that prevents air from entering
- Taking appropriate Standard Precautions
- Placing an occlusive dressing directly over the wound and holding it in place
- Providing high-flow oxygen
- Caring for shock
- Types of open chest injuries include:
- Sucking chest wound (open chest wound characterized by a sucking sound each time the patient inhales)
- Tension pneumothorax (air builds up inside the chest cavity, causing excessive pressure on one side of the chest)
Impaled Chest Wounds
- Impaled objects must be stabilized and left in place
- Take appropriate Standard Precautions
- Perform primary assessment
- Ensure ABCs are intact
- Assist ventilations as appropriate
- Provide high-flow oxygen per local protocol
- Provide care for shock
- Initiate immediate transport
Abdominal Injuries
- Abdominal injuries can produce life-threatening emergencies
- Signs and symptoms can be delayed for hours or days
- Types of abdominal emergencies include:
- Bleeding
- Constipation
- Pain or cramps in the abdominal or pelvic region
- Abdominal injury management involves:
- Performing thorough assessment of the abdomen
- Palpating all quadrants
- Exposing the abdomen to observe for signs of injury
- Allowing the patient to maintain a position of comfort
- Abdominal evisceration is an open wound of the abdomen characterized by protrusion of intestines through the abdominal wall
- Never attempt to place spilled abdominal contents back into the open wound.
This quiz covers chest injuries, including closed chest injuries and their management. It includes the primary assessment and treatment of blunt force trauma to the chest.
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