Special Trauma Considerations
Information Covered:
- Trauma in Pregnancy
- Incidence
- Mortality/morbidity
- Risk factors
- Prevention
- Pathophysiology
- Exhibit responses different due to physiologic changes during pregnancy
- Mother
- Blood volume changes
- Respiratory changes
- GI and intra-abdominal changes
- Fetus
- Fetal death
- Special Considerations in assessment
- Special considerations in management
- Incidence
- Pediatric Trauma
- Unique Pediatric Aspects of Trauma
- Pathophysiology
- Head – most common injured
- Spine
- SCIWORA
- Chest
- Very compliant – injury requires great force
- Commotio cordis – sudden impact of blunt force to the chest resulting in cardiac dysfunction, even death
- Abdomen
- Musculoskeletal
- Special Considerations in assessment
- Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
- Circulation
- Head
- Chest
- Abdomen
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Special considerations in management
- Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (improper management is the most common cause of preventable pediatric death)
- Circulation
- Head
- Spinal –
- Abdomen
- Extremity
- Transportation
- Geriatric Trauma
- Unique Geriatric Aspects of Trauma
- Pathophysiology
- Most changes occur after age 80 if the patient is in general good health
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular
- Neurological system
- Neuron mass reduction
- Velocity of impulses
- Mentation changes
- Thermoregulation changes
- Gastrointestinal
- Renal
- Musculoskeletal
- Integumentary
- Immune
- Special considerations in assessment
- Special considerations in management
- Specific injuries/diseases management
- Shock
- Head injuries
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Burns
- Abuse
- Cognitively impaired patient
- Unique challenges with cognitive impaired patients
- ability of individual to communicate complaints
- unreliable historian’s
- unusual presentation of common disorders
- reduced pain threshold
- consent to treat complications
- most commonly mental retardation (IQ less than 70)
- 1 to 2.5% of population has mental retardation
- Autism – differences in social, communication and ability to purposefully shift attention (may become agitated with touch)
- Special considerations in assessment
- Level of development
- Use family and caregivers as part of history gathering
- Assess/determine hearing and sight problems
- Take vital signs when patient is calm
- Typically helpful to have a caregiver present during physical exam
- Special considerations in management
- Treatment is the same
- Suspect common disorders in the age population
- Injuries
- Infections
- Seizures
- Delirium
- Psychiatric disorders
- Unique challenges with cognitive impaired patients
Content Creator: Joyce Lockwood
CAPCE Course Number: 21-EMTP-F3-2206
Total CE Hours: 1
Level: Advanced
EMT-CE uses the NEMSES guidelines as the foundation for every course outline.