ICU SAQs · Trauma & burns
The lethal triad — the pathophysiology of the bleeding trauma patient
A CICM First-Part basic-science SAQ on the lethal triad — the anaerobic-metabolism acidosis, the heat-loss hypothermia, the consumption-dilution-dysfunction coagulopathy, the vicious spiral they form, and the damage-control rationale (blood not crystalloid, warming, the surgical control).
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Prompt
Explain the lethal triad of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy in the traumatically bleeding patient — the mechanism of each, how each worsens the others, and the physiological basis of the damage-control resuscitation.
Question
Explain the lethal triad of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy in the traumatically bleeding patient — the mechanism of each, how each worsens the others, and the physiological basis of the damage-control resuscitation.
References3ShowHide
- [1]Bersten AD, Soni N (eds) Oh's Intensive Care Manual. 8th edition, Elsevier, 2018.
- [2]American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Student Course Manual. 10th edition, ACS, 2018.
- [3]Shakur H, Roberts I, Bautista R, et al. Effects of tranexamic acid on death, vascular occlusive events, and blood transfusion in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage (CRASH-2). Lancet, 2010.PMID 20554319