TRAUMA PRIMARY SURVEY

Course overview

THE PRIMARY SURVEY IS DESIGNED TO RAPIDLY ASSESS AND TREAT LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. THE MAIN CAUSES OF DEATH IN TRAUMA PATIENTS ARE AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION, RESPIRATORY FAILURE, HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK, AND BRAIN INJURY. THEREFORE, THESE ARE THE AREAS TARGETED BY THE PRIMARY SURVEY. SOME SPECIFIC INJURIES THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED DURING A PRIMARY SURVEY INCLUDE TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX, OPEN PNEUMOTHORAX, AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION, FLAIL CHEST, MASSIVE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL HEMORRHAGE, AND CARDIAC TAMPONADE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE STEPS, EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN PERFORMING THE PRIMARY SURVEY ON TRAUMA PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS.