Patients Assessment Components for Trauma Management

Jay Johannigman is a Texas-based military trauma surgeon. He teaches at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine in the department of surgery and has received many teaching awards and honors. Jay Johannigman formerly served as a trauma and critical care surgeon at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A trauma patient is someone who experiences a sudden physical injury. Injuries may be minor, severe, or life-threatening. The initial assessment of a trauma patient is a primary evaluation to discover and treat life-threatening injuries and prevent complications. The preliminary test involves an airway assessment, breathing assessment, and a circulation assessment.

Airway assessments ascertain airway stability and potency. Airways are assessed for obstruction, penetrating neck injury, or a state of reduced consciousness. For breathing assessment, expose the chest and inspect it for bruising, deformity, or open wounds. Note the patient’s respiratory rate, respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation. A trauma circulation assessment involves detecting and managing reduced tissue perfusion or shock. Shock in a trauma patient is most commonly caused by blood loss.