A trauma patient with hypotension has a positive FAST examination with free abdominal fluid. What is the next step?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Emergency laparotomy
- Step 1: Hypotension with free fluid on FAST indicates ongoing intra-abdominal haemorrhage. Step 2. An unstable patient goes directly to the operating room. Answer: emergency laparotomy. Why not the others: CT is for stable patients; waiting delays haemorrhage control; colonoscopy has no role.
Practise more Surgery and Trauma.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Revalida (Brazil Medical Diploma Revalidation Exam) mock tests.
More Surgery and Trauma questions
- In the primary survey of a trauma patient, which step comes first?
- A trauma patient is hypotensive with absent breath sounds on the right, distended neck veins and tracheal deviation to the left. What is the…
- Which pain pattern is typical of early acute appendicitis?
- A patient has right upper quadrant pain, fever and a positive Murphy sign. Ultrasound shows gallstones and wall thickening. What is the best…
- What is the most common cause of small-bowel obstruction in adults who have had abdominal surgery?
- A 70 kg adult has burns over 30% of the total body surface. By the Parkland formula (4 mL x kg x %TBSA), how much crystalloid is given in th…