SUDDEN DEATH

Sudden Death Trauma Scenarios

The Trauma Department at Liverpool Hospital has been developing the concept of "Sudden Death Trauma Scenarios" to facilitate rapid decision making in critically injured patients.

The basic principle is that in a moribund or dying patient, the Trauma Team Leader must make on the spot decisions. The correct decision may save the patient's life. An incorrect decision may result in the patient's death or add to their morbidity.

We use them in a live setting in one of two ways:

In some cases we put an individual in the spotlight: at each critical point in the resucitation they are given the chance to make a specified number of requests. As long as they come up with the right requests, they remain Trauma Team Leader!
Alternatively, you can use them in groups as a knockout competition. Everybody stands up at the beginning. At each decision making point a list of options are given. By show of hands, the individuals are asked to committ to one of the options. The answer is then given and only those who chose the right option remain standing to continue the resucitation.

PLEASE NOTE:

These scenarios are drawn from our experience but the stories are modified and cases merged to protect the identity of the patients.

While access is not restricted to the medical and related professions, members of the general public must be warned that these cases include photos of traumatic injuries which could be distressing to lay people.

The Cases:

mbulance Message / Handover: M=mechanism, I=injury, S=signs & T=treatment
Medical Assessment: A=airway, B=breathing, C=circulation, D=neurological defecit