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Traumatic cardiac arrest from blunt trauma — DipIMC MCQ

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HardTraumaTraumatic cardiac arrest from blunt traumaDipIMC

A 19-year-old pedestrian is pulseless after being struck by a car. There is major lower limb bleeding, shallow agonal breathing just before arrest, absent radial pulses and a distended abdomen; the team has blood, pelvic binder and thoracostomy equipment. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

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Correct answer: D — Control catastrophic haemorrhage and treat reversible causes alongside CPR

Traumatic cardiac arrest management prioritises reversible causes: haemorrhage control, oxygenation, bilateral chest decompression and pelvic splintage. Standard ALS alone has poor yield when the cause is untreated hypovolaemia or obstruction. Adrenaline is not the first priority when exsanguination is clinically evident.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK traumatic cardiac arrest; JRCALC Guidelines