Pediatric emergency medicine trisk 3183 3183

FIGURE 103.2 Management of blunt abdominal trauma. FAST, focused abdominal
sonography for trauma; CT, computed tomography ( Table 103.2 ).

Initial management of the unstable patient. Immediate life-threatening injuries,
such as airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, pericardial tamponade, and
obvious sources of external blood loss, must be treated promptly upon detection.
Tourniquet placement for the management of extremity hemorrhage can be
lifesaving.
If significant head trauma has occurred, a determination must be made
regarding the need for immediate neurosurgical intervention. A rapidly performed
CT scan (without IV contrast) of the head is usually sufficient to determine the