ER Trauma Note
Time of Assessment: 14:30
Patient: 45-year-old female
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HPI
Patient presents after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) as a restrained driver. She reports being struck from the side at an intersection. Airbags deployed. She denies loss of consciousness at the scene or during transport. She experienced a brief period of confusion immediately after the impact but reports no current amnesia. She complains of neck pain, left-sided chest pain, and abdominal discomfort. No vomiting reported.
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AMPLE
Allergies: Penicillin (hives), Ibuprofen (anaphylaxis)
Medications: Lisinopril 10mg OD, Metformin 500mg BD
Past Medical History: Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Cholecystectomy (2010)
Last Meal: 10:00, toast and coffee
Events Leading to Presentation: Patient was driving when her vehicle was T-boned at an intersection. EMS arrived within 10 minutes, immobilised her with a cervical collar and long board, and transported her to the emergency department. No pre-hospital interventions were performed beyond immobilisation.
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Primary Survey (ABCDE)
A - Airway
Airway patent and protected
C-spine precautions maintained with hard collar
B - Breathing
Respiratory rate: 18 breaths/min
Oxygen saturation: 98% on room air
Breath sounds clear bilaterally with good air entry
Chest wall non-tender, no crepitus, no paradoxical movement
No oxygen or ventilatory support in use
C - Circulation
Heart rate: 92 bpm
Blood pressure: 130/85 mmHg
Temperature: 36.8°C
Skin warm and dry, capillary refill <2 seconds
No active external bleeding
IV access: 18G cannula left antecubital fossa, 1L Hartmann's solution administered en route
Abdomen soft but tender in left upper quadrant
Pelvis stable to manual compression
D - Disability
Glasgow Coma Scale: E4 V5 M6 (GCS 15)
Blood glucose level: 6.8 mmol/L
Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light (3mm bilaterally)
Motor: All four limbs strength 5/5, no focal neurological deficits
Sensory: Intact to light touch in all dermatomes
E - Exposure and Environment
Bruising noted over left anterior chest wall (seatbelt sign)
Left flank contusion
No obvious deformities or open fractures
Patient covered with warm blankets to maintain normothermia
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Secondary Survey
Head and Neck: Mild tenderness to palpation of cervical spine C4-C6, no step-offs or deformities. No active bleeding or lacerations. Full range of motion of neck limited by pain.
Chest: Left anterior chest wall tenderness, particularly over ribs 5-7. Bruising noted along seatbelt distribution. No crepitus or instability.
Abdomen: Tenderness in the left upper quadrant. No distension or ecchymosis noted. Bowel sounds present.
Pelvis: Stable to manual compression. No tenderness over symphysis pubis or iliac crests.
Back: No step-offs or midline tenderness on log-roll examination.
Extremities: Full range of motion in all limbs. No deformities or swelling. Distal pulses present and strong in all limbs. No neurovascular compromise.
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Investigations Ordered
Labs: Full blood count, venous blood gas, INR, creatinine, electrolytes, type and screen, liver function tests, amylase, lipase
Imaging: FAST ultrasound (negative for free fluid), CT cervical spine, CT chest, CT abdomen and pelvis
ECG: Performed, sinus rhythm at 90 bpm, no acute ischemic changes
Urine: Urine dipstick (negative for blood/protein), pregnancy test (negative)
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Working Impression
45-year-old female involved in high-speed MVC presenting with poly-trauma. Primary concerns include possible cervical spine injury, blunt chest trauma with potential rib fractures, and blunt abdominal trauma with suspected splenic injury given left upper quadrant tenderness. Patient is haemodynamically stable at present.
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Plan
Continuous vital sign monitoring
Pain control: IV Fentanyl 50 mcg PRN, IV Paracetamol 1g QDS
Review CT imaging as soon as available
Consult General Surgery for abdominal trauma
Consult Orthopaedics for potential cervical spine injury pending CT results
Administer Tetanus booster (last dose unknown)
Admit to Trauma ward for ongoing observation and management
ER Trauma Note
Time of Assessment: [Time of assessment as documented in transcript or patient details] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Use format HH:MM.)
Patient: [Patient age and gender] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript or patient details, else omit entirely. Write as a brief demographic descriptor e.g. 32-year-old male.)
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HPI
[Description of trauma mechanism including mechanism of injury, protective equipment used such as helmet or seatbelt, loss of consciousness, and associated symptoms such as vomiting, amnesia or confusion] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write in full sentences in paragraph format.)
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AMPLE
Allergies: [Known allergies including allergen and reaction type] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write as a list.)
Medications: [Current medications including dose and frequency] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write as a list.)
Past Medical History: [Relevant past medical and surgical history] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write as a list.)
Last Meal: [Time and content of last oral intake] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Events Leading to Presentation: [Mechanism of injury and pre-hospital course including any interventions by EMS] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write in full sentences.)
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Primary Survey (ABCDE)
A - Airway
[Airway status, cervical spine precaution status, and any airway interventions performed] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each finding on its own line.)
B - Breathing
[Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, breath sound findings, chest wall findings, and any oxygen or ventilatory support in use] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each parameter on its own line.)
C - Circulation
[Heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, skin perfusion findings, bleeding status, intravenous access details, fluids or blood products administered, abdominal findings, and pelvic stability] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each parameter on its own line.)
D - Disability
[Glasgow Coma Scale score broken down by eye, verbal and motor components, blood glucose level, pupil size and reactivity, and neurological findings including motor and sensory status] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each finding on its own line.)
E - Exposure and Environment
[Injuries identified on full exposure including lacerations, bruising, deformities or other findings, and temperature management measures taken] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each finding on its own line.)
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Secondary Survey
Head and Neck: [Findings on head and neck examination including lacerations, deformities, step-offs or active bleeding] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Chest: [Chest wall tenderness, bruising, or seatbelt sign] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Abdomen: [Abdominal findings including tenderness, distension or ecchymosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Pelvis: [Pelvic stability on examination] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Back: [Findings on log-roll examination including step-offs or midline tenderness] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Extremities: [Range of motion, deformities, and neurovascular status of all limbs] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
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Investigations Ordered
Labs: [Blood tests ordered including full blood count, venous blood gas, INR, creatinine, type and screen, or other relevant investigations] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write as a list.)
Imaging: [Imaging ordered including FAST ultrasound, CT head, CT cervical spine, chest X-ray, CT abdomen and pelvis, or other studies] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write as a list.)
ECG: [Whether ECG was performed and any relevant findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
Urine: [Urine investigations ordered including pregnancy test or toxicology screen] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely.)
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Working Impression
[Summary diagnostic impression or differential diagnoses based on mechanism, examination and investigations] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write in full sentences.)
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Plan
[Management plan including ongoing monitoring, analgesia prescribed, tetanus status review, specialist consults requested, and patient disposition] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, else omit entirely. Write each management point on its own line.)