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Penetrating neck injury — DipIMC MCQ

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HardPre-Hospital Trauma ManagementPenetrating neck injuryDipIMC

A man has a lower neck stab wound with expanding swelling and a hoarse voice. Oxygen saturation is currently 95% but he is increasingly distressed. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Call for critical care airway support and expedite to a major trauma centre

Option D is correct because Expanding neck haematoma and voice change suggest impending airway compromise and need expert airway planning. Option E is less appropriate because oxygen may be supportive, but it does not address the defining time-critical problem first; option A is less appropriate because vascular access is useful, but it should not delay the immediate priority. Option C is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option B is less appropriate because delay would increase clinical risk. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: ATACC Manual; JRCALC Guidelines