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Review Question - QID 106374

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QID 106374 (Type "106374" in App Search)
A 17-year-old male is brought to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident. He has suffered several wounds and is minimally responsive. There is a large laceration on his forehead as well as a fracture of his nasal bridge. He appears to be coughing and spitting blood. He is already wearing a soft collar. Vitals are as follows: T 36.4C, BP 102/70 mmHg, HR 126 bpm, and RR 18 rpm, and SpO2 is 88% on RA. He has 2 peripheral IVs and received 2L of IV normal saline on route to the hospital. There is frank blood in the oropharynx. Breath sounds are present bilaterally. Abdomen is distended and tender. Pulses are 1+. Which of the following should be the first step in management?

Blood transfusion with unmatched blood

0%

0/28

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) scan

29%

8/28

Orotracheal intubation

39%

11/28

Type and screen for matched blood transfusion

4%

1/28

Cricothyroidotomy

25%

7/28

Select Answer to see Preferred Response

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The first priority in an unstable trauma patient is securing the airway. Naso- or oropharyngeal intubation is contraindicated in an individual who has undergone facial trauma resulting in significant blood in the oropharynx, who should be managed with a cricothyroidotomy.

In practice, a well-run trauma response team may be accomplishing airway security, intravenous access, FAST scan, and blood product resuscitation simultaneously. However, it is important to recall that the hierarchy of trauma response indicates 1) Airway, 2) Breathing, and 3) Circulation. If trauma to the face precludes an oral airway, a cricothyroidotomy is the appropriate approach.

Sagarin et al. determined the success rates of endotracheal intubation performed in emergency departments by emergency medicine residents in the US and Canada from 31 university-affiliated EDs. Emergency medicine residents performed 77% (5768/7498; 95% confidence interval [CI] 76% to 78%) of all initial intubation attempts in the US and Canada. The overall rate of cricothyroidotomy for all emergency resident intubations was 0.9% (50/5,757; 95% CI 0.6% to 1.1%).

Salvino et al. reviewed 30 emergency cricothyroidotomies among 8320 admissions over a 36-month period at a level I trauma center and concluded that emergency cricothyroidotomy is a safe and rapid means of obtaining an airway when endotracheal intubation fails or is contraindicated. They noted that no major complications were identified. Minor complications included minimal subglottic stenosis (2), local wound infection (1), and nonthreatening hemorrhage (1). Fifteen patients were long-term survivors.

Video V describes and identifies the surface markings and structures to be noted when performing a surgical cricothyroidotomy.

Incorrect Answers:
Answers 1 & 4: Blood transfusion should be initiated in a patient who is frankly bleeding and hypotensive, however this does not take priority over securing the airway. Unmatched, Type 0 negative blood is usually given in an emergent situation to a patient whose blood type is unknown.
Answer 2: The FAST scan looking for intraabdominal trauma occurs after the primary survey.
Answer 3: As discussed above, this patient requires a cricothyroidotomy as opposed to an oral airway.

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