Traumatic cardiac arrest — DipIMC MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Treat reversible traumatic causes while starting resuscitation
Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as B · B = shown as C · E = shown as D · D = shown as E
C is correct: Traumatic cardiac arrest management prioritises reversible causes such as hypoxia, tension pneumothorax, tamponade and haemorrhage rather than prolonged conventional ALS alone. A is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; B is less suitable because a detailed survey is inappropriate before correcting an immediate threat; D is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; E is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.
Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; NICE Major Trauma NG39; ATACC