how important is penetrating trauma?

[swaamedic]

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There seem to be some really good EM residencies that are in smaller communities (<1 million) where there is no formally recognized "knife and gun" club. How many GSWs/ stabbings are needed to feel proficient?
It's basically the same rountine: ABC's and call surgery/ CT or call a medevac.

 

[roja]

don't. pull. the. knife. out.



😀

 

[Seaglass]

Penetrating trauma is fairly straightforward from the EM perspective. If something is bleeding then stop it. If there is a hole in something call the surgeons. Stop the patient from dying. IMHO blunt trauma is more difficult - you have to figure out how sick they are without an obvious source.

 

[Dr.Evil1]

All the EM attendings that I have talked to seem to be fairly dismissive of penetrating trauma. "If you still get excited by penetrating trauma then you haven't seen enough penetrating trauma"

I still like it though...but I'm only a MS4

 

[edinOH]

Penetrating Trauma 101:

Airway
Breathing
Circulation

"Hello, umm, Dr. Surgeon, sorry to wake you but there were these two dudes and..."