Your patient is the 23-year-old female victim of an attempted abduction at knifepoint. The assailant was interrupted and drew his knife across the victim's throat as he fled the scene. A first responder on the scene immediately applied direct pressure to the neck wound. Your assessment reveals a very agitated young woman with ongoing blood loss despite direct pressure to the wound. There appears to be both bright-red bleeding and slower but steady dark-red bleeding. It appears that the trachea has not been penetrated but that there is a hematoma around the laceration. Which of the following is the most appropriate sequence of intervention for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this scenario, the patient is presenting ongoing blood loss and signs of compromised airway. Rapid sequence intubation is the most appropriate intervention to protect the patient's airway and to prevent a more severe respiratory compromise due to the hematoma. Direct pressure on the wound must be maintained throughout the procedure to control bleeding. Applying an occlusive dressing or a pressure dressing is not enough to control bleeding and protect the airway. Requesting an order from medical control to decompress the hematoma does not address the risk of respiratory compromise.

Your Patient Is the 23-Year-Old Female Victim of an Attempted