Sample interview questions: How do you handle patients who require emergency thoracotomy?
Sample answer:
- Initial Preparation:
- Ensure a dedicated and sterile work area is available.
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Don necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids.
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Rapid Assessment:
- Quickly assess the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation status.
- Control any severe bleeding.
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If cardiac arrest is present, initiate CPR immediately.
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Call for Additional Help:
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Communicate the need for immediate assistance to the trauma team.
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Positioning:
- Position the patient supine on a firm surface.
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Expose the chest adequately.
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Sterile Field:
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Prepare a sterile field using appropriate sterile drapes.
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Incision:
- Make a left anterolateral thoracotomy incision at the 5th intercostal space, starting just lateral to the sternum.
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Extend the incision superiorly to the level of the 4th intercostal space and inferiorly to the level of the 6th intercostal space.
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Pericardiotomy:
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Identify and open the pericardial sac.
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Cardiac Massage:
- Initiate direct cardiac massage.
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Maintain effective chest compressions.
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Repair:
- Identify and control the source of… Read full answer
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