1. Primary
Trauma Survey
Aries Glenn B. Galao, BSN, RN

2. AIRWAY MANAGEMENT AND
CERVICAL SPINE
IMMOBILIZATION

3. • Open airway using the jaw-thrust
method.
• Assess airway for compromise
and/or obstruction
• Suction nasal/oral pharynx to clear
blood, secretions, or debris

4. BREATHING AND
VENTILATION

5. • Assess respirations for:
– Rate, depth, quality, effort
• Inspect and palpate chest
• Auscultate lung fields for diminished
or absent breath sounds if
ventilation is abnormal
• Manually ventilate with BVM if
breathing is absent or inadequate

6. CIRCULATION AND
HEMORRHAGE CONTROL

7. • Assess pulse for:
– Presence, quality, regularity
• Begin chest compression if no pulse
can be detected
• Assess:
– Skin color, temperature, moisture,
capillary refill
• Control hemorrhage with direct
pressure

8. DISABILITY

9. • Determine and establish a baseline
GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) Score
– May use AVPU
• Assess pupils
– PERRLA (Pupils Equal and Round,
Reactive to Light and Accomodation)

10. EXPOSE/ENVIRONMENT

11. • Remove clothing
• Assess entire patient for injury and
hemorrhage
• Maintain body temperature by
keeping the patient covered

12. • Log roll to inspect and palpate
posterior surfaces
• Immobilize entire body
– Use a c-spine collar and long board

13. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

14. IV Fluids and Blood
• LR is the fluid of choice in trauma
patients
• CAUTION: LR contains calcium which
causes donor blood to clot in the IV
tubing
• If a blood transfusion is likely, then
NS is the fluid of choice

15. Pregnancy
• Cervical spine immobilization
– Pregnant women (>24wk) should be
immobilized in the left lateral position
if possible to avoid compression of the
vena cava, which causes supine
hypotension

16. MECHANISMS OF INJURY

17. Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA)
• Direction of impact
• Speed at impact
• Condition of vehicle
• Use of seatbelts or airbags
• Ejection from vehicle
• Was any other passenger from the same vehicle
killed
• Delayed transport due to extrication from vehicle
• Chest or abdominal bruising from steering wheel
or seatbelt

18. • Falls
– From what height
– Onto what type of surface
• Penetrating Trauma
– Weapon
– Site and depth of injury
– Underlying organs
– Weapon-patient distance
– Caliber and velocity of bullet

19. • Burns
– Degree of burns
– % total body surface area (TBSA)
– Associated trauma

20. REVISED TRAUMA SCORE (RTS)
COMPONENT FINDING VALUE
Respiratory Rate 10-29/min 4
>29/min 3
6-9/min 2
1-5/min 1
Apnea 0
Systolic Blood Pressure >89 4
76-89 3
50-75 2
1-49 1
Pulseless 0
Glasgow Coma Scale Score 13-15 4
9-12 3
6-8 2
4-5 1
0-3 0

21. Thank You!