A 24-year-old man arrives after a stab wound to the left chest. Triage acuity is ESI 1; he loses pulses in the ambulance bay after 5 minutes of

Question

A 24-year-old man arrives after a stab wound to the left chest. Triage acuity is ESI 1; he loses pulses in the ambulance bay after 5 minutes of witnessed signs of life. CPR is started immediately. Pupils are reactive and no other fatal injuries are obvious. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Perform emergency department resuscitative thoracotomy

Answer

Declare death immediately because trauma arrest has poor prognosis

Answer

Transfer to CT scanner during arrest

Answer

Give thrombolysis for presumed PE

Answer

Continue CPR for 45 minutes before intervention

Resuscitative thoracotomy indication — ABEM Board MCQ