Cardiovascular system

Emergency

Aim

• Arrest hemorrhage and restore blood pressure to maintain adequate vital tissue perfusion.

Procedure

• Control external hemorrhage - ligation or compression bandage to all exposed bleeding tissue.
• Warmth, restrict movement.
• Analgesia - but avoid respiratory depressants.
  An animal with chest pain (eg fractured ribs) will ventilate better with analgesia.
• Restore fluid pressure with (shock doses) intravenous fluids Fluid therapy :
  • Blood - crossmatched if possible Blood: transfusion.
  • Plasma.
  • Plasma expanders.
  • Electrolyte solutions.
• Consider need for emergency surgery if continued evidence of blood loss.
• Assess:
  • Femoral pulse.
  • Capillary refill time (CRT).
  • Respiratory rate.
  • Packed cell volume Hematology: packed cell volume and total plasma protein Blood biochemistry: total protein.
  • Electrocardiogram - if readily available or poor response to fluid therapy.
  • Patient demeanor.

Follow-up

• Monitoring as above.
• Check blood supply to traumatized areas:
  • Edema.
  • Pulse.
  • Warmth.
  • Local capillary refil time (CRT).
  • Pressure bandage - check not restricting venous return.
• Maintain fluid balance IV or PO as necessary.

Respiratory system

Surface wounds

Musculo-skeletal system

Neurological system

Abdominal systems

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Rozanski E (2003) Approach to the trauma patient. A Bridge to the Future Veterinary Conference.