emDocs - January 29, 2017 - Authors: Cuthbert D and Bucher J
Edited by: Simon E and Koyfman A
"Summary
- ED management of a patient with a penetrating injury begins with addressing the ABCs.
- The first step in addressing active bleeding is the application of direct pressure.
- Patients with head wounds commonly undergo advanced imaging to rule out foreign body and underlying trauma.
- Hemorrhagic shock, airway obstruction, air discharge from a wound, active pulsatile blood flow, massive hemoptysis, and uncontrolled bleeding in patients with neck injuries mandate immediate surgical intervention.
- Assume cardiac and great vessel injury in all patients with trauma to the cardiac box.
- Hemodynamically unstable patients with abdominal trauma require operative intervention.
- Patients with penetrating injuries to the extremities with absent or diminished pulses, obvious arterial bleeding, expanding hematoma or pulsatile bleeding, audible bruit, palpable thrill, or distal ischemia require operative intervention."