title: Critical trauma skills and procedures in the emergency department.
abstract: Injuries and illness associated with major trauma that require lifesaving procedures, such as surgical airway, chest tube thoracotomy, emergency department thoracotomy, early recognition and treatment of compartment syndrome, and venous cutdown, are seen in the emergency department. The emergency medicine physician must be proficient in recognizing these injuries and their associated complications and be able to provide appropriate management. This article discusses the most common trauma-related procedures in which emergency physicians must be proficient. A description of each procedure is discussed as well as the indications, contraindications, equipment, technique, and potential complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Hospital UPR Dr Federico Trilla, 65th Infantry Avenue Km 3.8, Carolina, PR 00985, USA. jfalconc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Falcon-Chevere
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzcategui-Corder
authors.forename: Angelisse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almodovar
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination; D013907:Thoracostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016748:Venous Cutdown / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy