A 20 year old male is brought to the hospital approximately 30 minutes after being stabbed in the chest. There is a 3cm wound just medial to the left nipple. His BP is 70/33 and HR is 140. Neck and arm veins are distende Breath sounds are normal. Heart sounds are diminished, IV access has been established and warm crystalloid is infusing. The next most important aspect of immediate management is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: "FAST exam." In this scenario, the patient presents with signs of hypovolemic shock likely due to internal bleeding from the chest wound. FAST exam (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) is a rapid bedside ultrasound used to assess for free fluid in the abdomen or pericardium, which can help identify the source of bleeding. This is crucial for immediate management as it can guide further interventions such as surgery or angiography.
Choice A: "CT scan of the chest" is not the most immediate step as it takes time and may not provide rapid information needed for immediate management.
Choice B: "12 lead ECG" is not the priority in this situation as the patient is hemodynamically unstable and requires rapid assessment for potential life-threatening bleeding.
Choice D: "Begin infusion of RBCs" is important, but identifying the source of bleeding is crucial before deciding on the need for blood transfusion.
Nokea