September 2012 - Advocatehealth.com
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Transcript September 2012 - Advocatehealth.com
Trauma Morbidity and
Mortality
September 2012 CE
Condell Medical Center
EMS System
Site Code: 107200E -1212
Prepared by: Sharon Hopkins, RN, BSN, EMT-P
Rev 9.19.12
1
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this module, the EMS
provider will be able to:
1. Identify by mechanism of injury and signs and
symptoms of major causes of increased risk of
morbidity & mortality related to a traumatic injury
(airway obstruction, flail chest, open pneumothorax,
tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, aortic
tear).
2. Identify the significance and signs and symptoms of
crush injuries and compartment syndrome.
3. Describe treatment based on injury presented.
2
Objectives cont’d
4. Identify transport destination decision.
5. Actively participate in case scenario reviews.
6. Perform the skills of needle decompression,
cricothyrotomy, and QuickTrach
7. Successfully complete the post quiz
with a score of 80% or better.
3
Thoracic Trauma
Responsible for 20-25% of all trauma
related deaths
Purpose of primary assessment
Determine the presence of any
LIFE THREATS!!!
What’s going to kill the patient the
fastest??
Hypoxia
Hemorrhage
4
Trauma Stats
Deaths at the scene are usually due to
injury of the heart and/or great vessels
Deaths delayed by hours are usually due
to airway obstruction, tension
pneumothorax, hemorrhage, and
tamponade
Note: only a small portion of patients with
traumatic injuries to the chest need OR
5
Tissue Hypoxia
Inadequate delivery of oxygen to tissues
can be caused by a variety of mechanisms
Start patient assessments with primary
assessment
Any change in the patient condition and
you should repeat the primary assessment
A–B-C
6
Causes of Tissue Hypoxia
Hypovolemia from loss of blood volume
Ventilation/perfusion mismatch due to
injury of lung tissue
Compromise to ventilations and or
circulation due to a tension pneumothorax
Pump failure from severe myocardial injury
or pericardial tamponade
7
Thoracic Cage
A skeletal protection to many organs
Lungs
Heart
Great vessels
Spinal cord
Liver
Stomach
Spleen
Pancreas
Kidneys
Transverse colon
Trauma to the protective rib cage may also
cause some injuries
8
Diaphragm
Position: lies at the level following the curve of
the lower 6 ribs and connected to the xyphoid
process
Main function: respirations
Descends/flattens on inspiration
Rises on exhalation
Innervation: phrenic nerve which begins C3 to
C5 level
Injury above C3 unable to breathe
Injury below C5 can still breathe
9
Diaphragm
10
Diaphragm – A Moving Target
Palpate and place your finger tips at the lower
edge of your rib cage
Keep your fingers in contact with your skin
Take a deep breath
Feel your rib cage flare out
Diaphragm drawn downward moving lungs and
abdominal organs downward to accommodate lung
expansion
Now exhale
Feel your rib cage decrease in size
Your diaphragm rises as lung capacity decreases
11
Anatomy – Chest Contents
Contents above the diaphragm
Lungs
Lower trachea
Main stem bronchi
Heart and great vessels
Esophagus
These organs sit above the diaphragm
12
Anatomy – Chest Contents
Contents in the lower chest cavity in upper
abdominal region
Stomach
Spleen
Liver
Kidneys
Pancreas
These organs are separated from the
upper chest by the diaphragm
If diaphragm ruptures, abdominal organs
can migrate into chest cavity
13
Is the injury thoracic or
abdominal???
Trauma below
the nipples (T4 or
4th intercostal
space (ICS) can
cause both
intrathoracic and
intra-abdominal
injuries
14
Did you know???
The adult thoracic cavity can hold up to
3 L of blood for each side
What is the average adult blood volume?
5.5 – 6.5 liters
5.5 – 6.5 quarts
1 liter = 1 quart
Approximately 1.3 gallons
Formula: 0.07 x weight in kg=liters of blood
Ex: (adult) 0.07 x 80kg = 5.6 L
Ex: (newborn) 0.07 x 3kg = 0.2 L (200ml)
15
Pleural Space
A small area between 2 layers of pleura
Normally filled with minimal fluid
Can potentially expand if filled with air or
blood
Expansion is at the sacrifice of other organs in
the area
Visceral pleura
Directly lines lungs
Parietal pleura
Inner lining of the chest wall
16
Mediastinum
Midline area of the thoracic cavity
Contains
Heart
Aorta and pulmonary artery
Superior and inferior vena cavas
Trachea
Major bronchi
Esophagus
17
Mechanisms of Injury
Thoracic cage injuries can result from a
variety of sources
MVC
Motorcycle incidents
Falls
Crush
Blunt
Penetrating – firearms, knives
18
MOI
Blunt trauma
Injuries more predictable
Penetrating injuries
Unpredictable organ injury
Path of destruction can vary widely
19
Major Signs/Symptoms of Chest
Injuries
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Contusions
Open wounds
Sub Q emphysema
Hemoptysis
Distended neck veins
Tracheal deviation
Cyanosis
Shock
Tenderness
Instability
Crepitation
Altered breath sounds
Asymmetrical chest
movement including
paradoxical motion
20
Patient Assessment
Start with scene size-up
Perform primary assessment
Remember: Repeat ABC assessment if there
is a change in patient condition
Move into history taking with secondary
assessment
EMS patients rarely have just one isolated
injury with traumatic MOI
Signs and symptoms blur when injuries are
mixed together
21
Airway Obstruction
Results in hypoxia
Tissue insult occurs quickly
Once cells die, they are gone
Primary assessment starts with the
question:
Is the airway open and do I need to
apply manual c-spine control???
If the airway is not open, what do I need
to do???
22
Opening a Blocked Airway
In trauma
Modified jaw thrust
In absence of trauma
Head tilt/chin lift
Are secretions present?
Limit suctioning generally to <10 seconds
Are adjuncts required?
Is there a gag reflex?
If necessary, stroke eyelashes to check for blink
reflex
23
Airway Maneuvers
Modified jaw thrust
Used in presence
of suspected or
known trauma
Head tilt/chin lift
24
Interventions for Obstructed
Airways
Cricothyroid membrane - Need to know
landmarks – patient can’t wait
25
QuickTrach
Device sized for
adult (4.0 mm) or
peds (2.0 mm)
Kit contains items
noted to the right
Need to add skin
prep material and
BVM
26
Adjuncts for Obstructed Airway
QuickTrach – emergency cricothyrotomy
1 medic assembles equipment
1 medic locates and palpates cricothyroid
membrane
Run finger up from sternal notch
Cricoid cartilage first rigid ring
Membrane is above the cricoid cartilage
Prep skin
Insert needle at 90 degree angle
Aspirate air to confirm needle entry into trachea
27
Quicktrach cont’d
Change angle of insertion to 600 sliding
catheter sheath forward until red stopper is
flush with skin
Remove red stopper
Hold needle & syringe firmly and slide plastic
cannula forward til hub of catheter snug to skin
Remove needle and syringe
Begin to ventilate via BVM – hold equipment
securely
Assess for placement – BS, chest rise & fall
Secure catheter with ties provided
28
Needle Cricothyrotomy
Provides emergency access to an
otherwise blocked airway
29
Needle Cricothyrotomy
Locate cricothyroid membrane
Prep site
Insert large gauge catheter with syringe
attached into trachea – midline 450 angle
Aspirate with syringe to confirm placement
Advance catheter while withdrawing stylet
Attach 3.0 mm ETT hub
Ventilate with BVM via the 3.0 mm ETT hub
Assess for BS and chest rise
Secure catheter
Note: Will need to allow extra time for exhalation
30
Flail Chest
Fracture of 3 or more (2 or more in some
sources) adjacent ribs in 2 or more places each
Section becomes free floating
Be suspicious for the presence of pulmonary
contusions
It takes tremendous force to break that many ribs
Organs under the rib cage most likely traumatized
Compromise to normal diffusion of O2 and CO2 is
usually present
Flail chest does NOT automatically equal the
presence of a tension pneumothorax
31
Flail Chest
Can be suspicious of condition during the
primary assessment
Patient states “I can’t breathe”
The rib fractures cause significant pain as the
patient tries to take any breaths
Patient is anxious
May see paradoxical motion on visual
inspection
This is often a later sign due to initial
splinting
32
Flail Chest and Primary
Assessment
DO NOT stop your primary assessment
Just make note to go back to address why
there is respiratory distress
Remember: the only 2 times to interrupt
YOUR primary assessment is to correct an
obstructed/closed airway or to control
major hemorrhage
33
Flail Chest
Tremendous force
to fracture this
many ribs
Notice how lateral
the clavicular
midline really is!!!
Landmark
essential IF patient
develops a tension
pneumothorax
34
Flail Chest Key Signs /Symptoms
Paradoxical motion on visual inspection
Potential bruising or other marks on chest
wall
Crepitation and tenderness on palpation
Decreased breath sound depending on
degree of injury, splinting and presence of
pneumothorax
35
Flail Chest
36
Flail Chest Treatment
Supplemental oxygen therapy
Non-rebreather O2 if intubation not needed
Cardiac monitoring
Potential high for cardiac contusion
Stabilizing the chest wall is controversial
Do not tape the chest wall
Providing positive pressure ventilation (i.e.:
intubation on a ventilator) is the preferred
method of support which can be done in the
ED if not necessary in the field)
37
Open/Sucking Chest Wound
Air allowed to enter the thoracic space due
to an opening in the chest wall
Results from penetrating trauma
Air drawn into pleural space
Air will enter via the largest opening
The hole created in the chest wall versus the
glottic opening
Air entering the pleural space does not reach
the alveoli
38
Open/Sucking Chest Wound
Visual inspection reveals the wound
May hear a sucking or bubbling sound
May feel subcutaneous emphysema
around the area
Lightly palpate the area and feel a crackling
sensation under your finger tips
Noticed skin “puffed up”
39
Open/Sucking Chest Wound
Immediate treatment as soon as the
wound is found is to cover the wound with
a gloved hand
Then place an occlusive dressing over the
site
Secure occlusive dressing on 3 sides
Leaves a means of escape of air on the 4th
side to avoid the potential of converting the
injury to a tension pneumothorax
If wound is large, try defib pad over wound
40
Open/Sucking Chest Wound
Question
If the patient develops a tension
pneumothorax after the sucking chest wound
is sealed with an occlusive dressing, do you
need to perform a needle decompression?
NO!!! – not usually
There is already a BIG hole in the chest wall that
air can escape from
Just lift a corner of the dressing during exhalation
for air to escape
If there is no improvement, you might have to
decompress with a needle
41
You Evaluate…
What’s right?
Wound immediately
covered with hand
What’s wrong?
The care provider has no
gloves on
42
Tension Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax that generates and
maintains pressures greater than
atmospheric pressure in the thorax
A one way valve is created and air flows into
the pleural space and cannot escape
Most often associated with a traumatic
event but can be spontaneous
Can be a complication of treatment of an
open/sucking chest wound
43
Tension Pneumothorax –
Cascade of Events
A
Air enters pleural space
intrapleural pressure collapses lung, intercostal
bulging occurs, pressure exerted against
mediastinum
Uninjured lung becomes compressed
Vena cava compression venous return
Cardiac output (CO) causing pulse; B/P
JVD present, narrowed pulse pressure
Tracheal shift is a late but rare sign (hard to view)
44
X-ray - Tension Pneumothorax
What’s wrong with this
x-ray?
It should never have
been taken!
Diagnosis is clinical
Arrow points to
completely collapsed
lung
Dark filled images
indicate air filled
spaces
Note tracheal shift to
the right
45
Tension Pneumothorax
Typical signs and symptoms
Severe dyspnea
Hyperinflation of affected side
Diminished, then absent breath sound
Hyperresonance of affected side
Diaphoresis
Cyanosis
JVD
Tachycardia
Altered mental status
Eventual hypotension
46
Simple
Pneumothorax
There is a difference
These patient DO NOT require needle
decompression
May not even auscultate decreased breath
sounds if collapse is small
There is a clinical difference in
presentation (i.e.: vital signs) from a
simple to a tension pneumothorax
47
Jugular Vein Distention - JVD
JVD present when venous pressures are high
and blood cannot easily drain into the right
atrium
Typically seen with tension pneumothorax,, cardiac
tamponade, right sided heart failure and volume
overload
Most appropriately measured with patient sitting
at 450 angle and evaluating right side of neck
May not be possible with traumatic injury
Note: Lack of JVD in supine position with
physical findings may indicate hypovolemic
shock
48
JVD
Jugular vein is prominent if distended at a
point slightly higher than 1 inch above right
clavicle
49
Tension Pneumothorax Treatment
Rapid recognition is key!!!
Severe dyspnea
Distinct signs and symptoms
Needle decompression to relieve
intrapleural pressures
Administer supplemental O2 via NRB
Equipment
Longest and largest needle you have – 3 inch
long and 12-14 gauge
Skin prep material
50
Needle Decompression Landmarks
Finding
the Angle
of Louis is
an easier
landmark
than
counting
down rib
spaces
Angle of Louis
2nd ICS
51
Tension Pneumothorax Treatment
Needle decompression
Identify 2nd intercostal space (ICS)
Find Angle of Louis
Hang a Louis and slide into the 2nd ICS
From Angle of Louis, slide finger tips
toward armpit crease OR
Palpate down from MIDDLE of clavicle to
2nd ICS
Middle of clavicle more lateral than most
people identify; is male nipple line
Insert needle over top of rib
52
Landmarks for Needle Decompression
If needle placed too low and
too close to sternum, tip may
end up placed in the heart
53
Needle Decompression
Goal of needle decompression:
Provide a relief valve for air under tension
Do NOT need to make a flutter valve
Air will enter the path of least resistance
(i.e.: the larger pathway)
Diameter of trachea larger than a 14 G needle
so air will enter via trachea into the lungs and
not through a 14G needle into the pleural
space
54
You Evaluate…
What’s wrong?
Too low, tip may be
in the heart
Needle should have
been here
X
What’s right?
Catheter secured
55
Pericardial/Cardiac Tamponade
Blood or fluid fills the pericardial sac
surrounding the heart
Sac does not expand but compresses into the
heart limiting flow into the heart
Penetrating trauma most frequent MOI
High mortality rate due to potential for
rapid hemorrhage
56
Pericardial/Cardiac Tamponade
Agitation
Tachycardia
Diaphoretic
pulse strength & rate
Muffled heart tones
Beck’s triad (next slide)
Pulsus paradoxus
Systolic B/P drops by 10 mmHg on inspiration
Pulsus alternans
Alteration between strong and weak pulses
PEA
57
Beck’s Triad
Indicative of pericardial tamponade
(IF present)
This may be a LATE sign!
A grouping of 3 clinical signs
JVD
Muffled/distant heart tones
Hypotension
58
Pericardial/Cardiac Tamponade
It takes as little as 150-300 ml to exert pressure
to impede contractile function on the heart
Removing as little as 20 ml may improve the
contractile force to improve the patient’s condition
EMS goal: RAPID IDENTIFICATION
Then rapid transport
There won’t be much intervention in the field
that will save the patient’s life; they need
transport
59
Aortic Tear
Most commonly from blunt trauma
MOI usually high speed MVC - especially
lateral impact - and falls from great heights
High mortality rate – 85 - 95%
GOAL:
Rapid recognition of those patients that
survive the initial impact
Provide rapid and gentle transportation to a
Level I trauma center (if within 25 minutes of
transport)
60
Aortic Tear
Aorta fixed at 3 points in the thoracic
cavity
Shearing forces can separate the arterial
layers of this large, high-pressured vessel
Due to high pressures, aortic lining becomes
a false space
Rupture can occur without surgical repair
Death from rupture is usually quick;
dissection progresses more slowly
61
Aortic Tear
Most commonly tear
just past the arch of
the aorta
Less often at aortic
root (annulus) where
the aorta joins the
heart and the area
where aorta exits the
chest at the
diaphragm
62
Aortic Tear
Typically patient complains of a severe
tearing chest pain
Pain may radiate to the back
Reduced pulse strength in lower extremities
Mark pulse spots if palpated
Pulse deficit between left & right upper
extremities
If suspected, palpate to compare both radial
pulses
63
NEW!!! Permissive Hypotension in
Trauma
Restrictive fluid therapy
At least until hemorrhage is controlled
Highly suggested for aortic problems
Not recommended in the patient without a pulse
Aggressive fluid replacement tends to increase
total volume of blood loss
Call Medical Control for guidelines if you feel
your patient may benefit from restricted fluid
resuscitation
May order trendelenberg positioning
64
Region X SOP’s - Fluid Challenge
Fluid given in 200 ml INCREMENTS
You assess as you go
For medical calls patient more likely will tolerate and
need the 20 ml/kg replacement formula
Every body holds a different amount of blood
volume
Adult average 5.2 – 6 liters (5.5 – 6.5 quarts or 10-12
pints)
Average blood donation is 450 ml or less than 1
pint
Child average 2 liters
Infant average is 85 ml/kg or <300 ml
65
Blood Volume by Age
Do not judge the volume you see lying in
the street until you know whose blood it is
66
How Low Can You Go?
Classes of shock
Class I - <15% (<750 in the adult)
Class II – 15-30% (750 – 1500ml in the adult)
Class III – 30-40% (1500-2000ml in the adult)
Class IV - >40% (>2000ml in the adult)
Compensated shock in Class I & II
Decompensated shock by Class III
Blood pressure falling is the key
Blood pressure falling is also a LATE sign
67
Complications Related to Traumatic
Injuries
EMS goal – Do no further harm
Sometimes, doing our best just isn’t
enough
Secondary injuries may develop based on
what we do or don’t do at first patient
contact
It’s simple – do the right thing at the right
time and document accurately
68
Complications: Crush Injuries
Traumatic insults of severe compressive
forces
Crush injury – an injury compressing a body part
If short duration, local injury confined to injured part
Crush syndrome – systemic effects of
entrapment for longer than 4 hours
A potentially life-threatening event
Limitation of effective & healthy circulation
Think cave-in’s, equipment entrapment
69
Crush Syndrome
Pressure remains imposed for long period
of time (usually >4 hours)
Traumatic rhabdomyolysis develops
Crushed skeletal muscle disintegrates
Release of metabolic by-products restricted to
the compressed area for as long as area
remains compressed
Myoglobin – a muscle protein
Phosphate & potassium (K+) – from cell death
Lactic acid – from anaerobic metabolism
70
Crush Syndrome
When pressure released, metabolic
by-products enter the central circulation
Cause severe metabolic acidosis
Toxic to heart and kidneys
Myoglobin plugs kidney’s filtering system
Sodium, chloride and water flood into
damaged tissue creating hypovolemia
Hyperkalemia reduces cardiac muscle
response to electrical stimuli dysrhythmias
Aerobic process resumed producing more uric
acid increasing cellular acidity and injury
71
EMS Care of Crush Injuries
Identify the potential patient prior to
extrication
Scene safety is your fist priority
Goal of EMS:
Rapid transport
Adequate fluid resuscitation
Diuresis – keep kidneys flushed and working
Possibly systemic alkalinization
Corrects acidosis, hyperkalemia, prevents renal failure
Hospital may need to send a team with meds like
72
sodium bicarbonate
EMS Care cont’d
Cardiac monitoring
Influence of potassium and lactate traveling to
heart may cause dysrhythmias
Tenting or peaking of T wave
Prolonged PR interval
ST segment depression
Widening QRS (high levels of K+)
Note: Apply the cardiac monitor prior to
releasing the crushed area from entrapment
Be prepared for rapid onset of shock after
release from entrapment
73
Tall, Peaked T wave
Indicates excess potassium circulating in the
bloodstream
Normal potassium levels 3.5 – 5 meq/L
Hyperkalemia (>5.5 meq/L) is a cardiac irritant
74
Compartment Syndrome
Complication most commonly associated with
closed injuries to the extremities
Think of the patient who has fallen and is in
one position for a period of time before a wellbeing check finds them
Major muscle groups contained in compartments
Swelling of muscles will impede blood flow to
nerves, blood vessels and other structures
Most common site are lower extremities
75
Compartment Syndrome
Six P’s
Pain out of proportion – key finding!!!
Pallor
Paralysis
Paresthesia – pins & needles tingling
Pressure – feeling tension in extremity
Pulses – diminished or absent
Signs & symptoms not dependable
76
Compartment Syndrome
Difficult to assess
Motor and sensory usually intact
Distal pulses often present
Capillary refill with little to no change
More likely to develop beyond 6-8 hours
post-injury or even later
Key: patient complaining of pain out of
proportion
Don’t assume they are a wimp
77
EMS Care of Compartment
Syndrome
Maintain high index of suspicion
Elevation single most important tool for EMS
Reduces edema
Increases venous return
Lowers compartment pressure
Helps prevent ischemia
Cold pack applied to severe contusions
Hospital care includes measuring pressures
Normal pressure near zero
Pressure >30mmHg restricts capillary flow
Irreversible ischemic changes after 10 hours
78
Hospital Intervention Compartment
Syndrome
Fasciotomy is surgical intervention to open
fascia to allow for swelling without restrictive
pressures
When pressures go down, patient taken back
to surgery to close the wound left open
79
Transport Criteria
Highest level Trauma Center within 25 minutes
Unstable per vital signs
Anatomy of injury – life threatening injury
Closest Trauma Center
Based on mechanism of injury with higher potential for
traumatic injury or traumatic arrest
Patient is stable
Patient may have co-morbidity increasing their risk level
with the insult
Closest appropriate comprehensive ED
Do not meet any of the above criteria or Ems unable to
80
establish an airway
Case Scenarios
Discuss the following cases
What is your general impression?
Discuss the primary assessment
Have you identified a life threatening
condition?
What is your intervention and when do you
perform it?
Where does this patient get transported to?
81
Case Scenario #1
Respond to a call for
MVC – 2 vehicles
Your patient is a 16 y/o
female restrained
driver hit head-on
approximately 45 mph
by a Suburban
This is what you see
as you approach the
scene
82
Case Scenario #1
+ seatbelt
Airbag deployed
Small staring at base of windshield
Driver’s side window shattered; unable to
open door
A & O x3; hysterical
Active bleeding from nose
Multiple lacerations to face and extremities
83
Case Scenario #1
Primary assessment
Mental – Patient awake, A & O x3, hysterical
Airway – open
C-spine – manual control taken
Breathing – rapid, without effort
Circulation – bleeding from nose; pulse rapid and
regular
Life threats identified?
None
So keep moving on the survey and keep looking for
injuries
84
Case Scenario #1
If this patient had chest injuries, what clues
would indicate:
Flail chest
Multiple rib fractures found on palpation
Pain with breathing
Pneumothorax
Pain with breathing
Decreased or absent breath sounds
Tension pneumothorax
Agitation, tachycardia, hypotension, absent BS
85
Case Scenario #1 – EMS Care –
What Would You Do?
Flail chest
Supplemental O2
BVM for positive pressure ventilation if severe
Pneumothorax
Supplemental O2
Watch for development tension pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax
Needle decompression 2nd ICS
Place needle above the rib
Avoid nerves and blood vessels
86
Scenario #2
EMS has been called to the scene of a
MVC
No witnesses
Passer-by noticed MVC and called it in
Patient has an altered level of
consciousness
What’s your primary assessment?
Mental status
ABC’s with c-spine
Identification of life threats
87
Scenario #2
The scene is safe
Your patient is in
the red car
They are looking
around upon your
arrival
They do not follow
command
They are confused
You take charge of the c-spine
88
Scenario #2
Patient is wearing a seat belt
Witnesses state the patient did not slow down
but just ran into the car in front of them
Airway – open
Breathing – rapid, regular
Circulation – clammy, pale, pulse regular
and fast
No obvious bleeding
89
Scenario #2
No life threats are found
Why would the patient be confused???
Head injury
Alcohol, drugs
Hypoglycemia
Blood sugar checked – 35
Treatment indicated?
Gain IV access
Administer D50
90
Scenario #2
IV infiltrates while pushing D50
Now what???
Stop infusion
D/C line
Document event
Verbally give report to ED
91
Extravasation of IVP Dextrose
Carefully monitor the site as you push any
medication
92
Case Scenario #3
Female driver in small car had tree fall on
her car during a rain storm
Patient impaled with branch of tree
Are these chest or abdominal wounds?
Could be both
depending on
inhalation or
exhalation at time of
injury and path of FB
93
Case Scenario #3
How do you care for the open wound in
the field?
Moist sterile saline dressing over the open
tissue
Covered with dry
dressings
Avoid poking anything
into the wound
Observe for
evisceration
94
Case Scenario #3 – Pain
Management
Fentanyl 0.5 mcg/kg IVP/IN/IO
May repeat in 5 minutes with same dose
Max total 200 mcg
Same formula for adult and peds
Less cardiovascular changes than
morphine
Less nausea from the medication
As a synthetic narcotic, watch for
respiratory depression
95
Case Scenario #3
Tree branch removed from patient
96
Case Scenario
#4
Patient fell onto
bicycle
Patient agitated,
complains of inability to breath
Patient is dyspneic, tachycardiac,
becoming cyanotic, with JVD increasing
Blood pressure falling (radial pulse harder
to palpate)
What’s your impression?
Tension pneumothorax
97
Case Scenario #4
What intervention is necessary?
Immediate needle decompression
What are the landmarks?
2nd ICS
Midclavicular line
Stay more lateral than you think
98
Needle Decompression
2nd ICS, midclavicular
line – “X” marks the
spot
When needle
inserted, listen for
hiss of released air
Should have
immediate
improvement in
patient
X
99
Steps for Needle
Decompression
Find the Angle of Louis
Slide your fingers toward the
armpit crease
Stop at the midpoint of the
clavicle
This is in-line (vertical) with the male nipple
The male nipple horizontally lies in the 4th ICS
Insert needle above the rib, advance and
begin to separate needle from catheter
Secure in place
100
Needle Decompression
Needle inserted above the rib
Avoids puncturing the vessels or nerves
101
Bibliography
Region X Advanced Life Support Standard Operating
Procedures February 1, 2012
Bledsoe, B., Porter, R., Cherry, R. Paramedic Care
Principles & Practices Fourth Edition. Brady. 2013.
Campbell, J. International Trauma Life Support for
Emergency Care Providers. 7th edition. Pearson. 2012.
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