Trauma Surgery Glossary

Standardized scoring system used to rate the severity of individual injuries in trauma patients.

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the organization that establishes trauma center verification standards...

Standardized parameters that determine when to mobilize the trauma team for incoming patients based on injury severity i...

Minimally invasive procedure using catheter-guided coils or particles to stop internal bleeding.

Advanced Trauma Life Support, a standardized protocol for initial assessment and management of trauma patients.

Injury caused by projectiles such as bullets or fragments from explosive devices.

Severity classification system used to prioritize trauma patients based on injury patterns and resource requirements.

The classic triad of elevated central venous pressure, hypotension, and muffled heart sounds seen in cardiac tamponade.

Ecchymosis around the umbilicus indicating intraperitoneal bleeding.

Trauma resulting from explosive detonation, categorized into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary mechanisms.

Non-penetrating injury to the abdomen typically resulting from motor vehicle crashes, falls, or direct impact.

Clinical and radiographic assessment process to rule out cervical spine injury in trauma patients.

Hospital emergency code indicating massive blood loss requiring immediate mobilization of blood bank resources and trans...

Surgical emergency where increased pressure within a muscle compartment compromises circulation and tissue function.

Emergency surgical airway procedure through the cricothyroid membrane when standard intubation fails.

Staged surgical approach prioritizing life-saving interventions over definitive fracture repair in polytrauma patients.

Trauma management strategy emphasizing early blood product administration and rapid bleeding control.

A staged surgical approach prioritizing life-saving interventions over definitive repair in critically injured patients.

Surgical opening of the abdomen to relieve dangerously elevated intra-abdominal pressure.

Secured endotracheal tube or surgical airway providing complete airway control.

Final surgical stabilization of fractures using permanent hardware, performed after initial damage control measures in t...

Diagnostic peritoneal lavage - a procedure to detect intra-abdominal bleeding in trauma patients.

Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma that includes lung examination for pneumothorax detection.

Immediate chest surgery performed in the emergency department for patients with life-threatening thoracic trauma.