A patient is haemodynamically unstable after blunt abdominal trauma with free fluid on FAST. What is the next step?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Emergency laparotomy
- Step 1: Instability with positive FAST indicates intra-abdominal bleeding.
- Step 2: Surgical control of bleeding is the priority.
Answer
Emergency laparotomy.
Why not the others: 'Repeat the FAST in 6 hours' delays treatment; 'CT scan before any intervention' is unsafe for an unstable patient; 'Discharge after analgesia' is unsafe.
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