Cheat Sheet

ATLS Approach Golden Hour!

Treat what will kill first, first!
No Def Diagnosis not preclude essential Rx

1. Primary Survey 2. Adjuncts 3. Secondary Survey

* Head-to-Toe
Procedures
Log Roll
AMPLE Hx: * Treat and stabilize
Allergies non-life-threatening
X-rays
Medicines
POCUS * Prepare for Definitive
Past Med Hx
Cathetre & NGT
Last Meal treatment
ECG & ABG
Events
Analgesia

Primary Survey:
AIRWAY Surgical SPINAL
ETT
OBSTRUCTION Cricothyroid otomy IMMOBILIZATION
AIRWAY
& C-Spine
Simple Airway
GCS ETT
Manouvres

TENSION Finger
ICD O2
PNEUMO Decompressn

MASSIVE ICD
HAEMOTHORAX (Autotransfusion) &
BREATHING

FLAIL CHEST ETT VENTILATE

3 Way Valve
OPEN PNEUMO ICD
Dressing

2X IVI
CARDIAC Pericardio-
THORACOTOMY Crystalloids (2l)
TAMPONADE centesis BLOOD
BLOOD on the CONTROL &
FLOOR BLEEDING

CHEST –
ICD &
HAEMOTHORAX

CIRCULATION ABDO SURGERY &

PELVIS - CLOSE # ➔
&
RE – ASSESS

Open book # Pelvigrip

LONG BONE # REDUCE # &

Look for & Dx

SHOCK SHOCK:
Hypovolaemic – bleeding faster than Rx
Cardiogenic – cardiac contusion
Obstructive – Tension Pneumo / Tampon / Preg – IVC
Neurogenic
DISABILITY Septic (uncommon early, but concomitant)
Hypothermia
L Hodsdon—2021

Strip, dry &

EXPOSURE HYPOTHERMIA
Warm up
Primary Survey
 Cheat Sheet
ATLS Approach 2 A Patient who has not been undressed has
not been examined—Full 1º & 2º survey is
impossible with clothes on

DEFINITIVE TREATMENT:

Polytrauma Patients:
Multiple Body Areas
LIFE THREATENING INJURIES NOT TO BE MISSED: Needs Tertiary Institution

Immediately Life Threatening: Early Referral—As soon identified

Identify & Treat in Primary Survey (normally after Primary Survey)
Stabilize and treat all Primary
1. Airway Obstruction
ABCDE issues Rx:
2. Inadequate Airway Protection (GCS issues)
ETT & Ventilation
3. Tension Pneumothorax
ICDs
4. Haemothorax—Massive
IVI—fluid, blood etc.
5. Open Pneumothorax
Backslab / splinting of
6. Flail Chest
known fractures
7. Cardiac Tamponade
Rewarming
8. Haemorrhagic shock — unresponsive to fluids
Antibiotics, ATT & Analgesia
1 on the floor & 4 More
Cathetre / NGT
9. Severe Hypothermia
Early EMS Booking
If going with AMS—prepare
Potentially Life Threatening—not so obvious Injuries
DO NOT DELAY TRANSFER FOR
Actively exclude in Secondary Survey
CTs
1. Blunt Oesophageal Injury Extensive X-Ray series
2. Tracheo-bronchial Injury FULL Secondary Survey
3. Pneumothorax PATIENT WILL DIE IF DEFINITIVE
4. Haemothorax TREATMENT DELAYED
5. Pulmonary Contusion
6. Cardiac Contusion Non - Polytrauma Patients:
7. Aortic Disruption (false aneurysm) Urgent Surgery:
8. Diaphragmatic Rupture
Early Referral—As soon identified
9. Mediastinal Traversing Injuries
(normally after Primary Survey)
10. Sternal / Scapular/Multiple Rib Fractures
Stabilize and treat all Primary
11. Ruptures: Spleen / Liver
ABCDE issues:
12. Ruptures: Abdominal / Pelvic Viscus
- May involve specialty early
13. Compartment Syndrome
L Hodsdon—2021

- STILL OUR PATIENT - Work

14. Any other injuries resulting in organ damage but
hand-in-hand with specialty,
not shock
not DUMP