EVALUATION OF THE ACUTELY INJURED PATIENT

KEY FIGURES:
Emergency cricothyrotomy
Emergency needle thoracostomy


This book primarily describes treatments for stable patients who have
a specific injury or problem wound. They have been evaluated previously
by a general surgeon, trauma surgeon, or emergency department
physician, who has ruled out other, more life-threatening
injuries.
Because health care providers cannot know what situation they may
face, all of us must be aware of how to evaluate a patient with potentially
serious injuries. This chapter provides basic principles for the important,
life-saving initial evaluation and treatment of a patient who
may have suffered a serious traumatic injury. It is not intended to be a
full, detailed description of first-line treatments, but it does provide
useful information for all health care providers.
Be sure to get as detailed a history as possible (from the patient, family,
or whoever brought the patient to medical attention), but do not waste
time. Your primary objective is to identify and treat potentially lifethreatening
injuries.