Atls (Advanced Trauma Life Support) Teaching Protocol

Important Notes:

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  NE does not exclude a cervical spine injury
  
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  Assume a cervical spine injury in any patient with multisystem trauma, especially with an altered level of consciousness or a blunt injury above the clavicle
  

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  Pitfalls:
  

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  Equipment failure
  
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  Cannot be intubated after paralysis and accompanied with difficult surgical airway
  
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  Unknown laryngeal fracture / incomplete airway transection.
  

Breathing and Ventilation

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  Q : What are the injuries that may acutely impair ventilation in the primary survey?
  

Injuries that should be identified in the Primary survey :

1. Tension pneumothorax

2. Flail chest with pulmonary contussion

3. Massive hemothorax

4. Open pneumothorax

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