Pediatric Trauma Flashcards
7 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pediatric Trauma flashcards as text
A 3-year-old is brought in after a motor vehicle crash. Which anatomical feature makes pediatric airway management uniquely challenging compared to adults?
Answer: Proportionally larger occiput causing neck flexion when supine
The proportionally larger occiput in young children causes passive neck flexion when supine, which can obstruct the airway without proper positioning.
When calculating estimated blood volume for a pediatric trauma patient weighing 20 kg, what is the approximate total blood volume?
Answer: 1600 mL
Pediatric blood volume is approximately 80 mL/kg, so a 20 kg child has an estimated blood volume of 1600 mL.
A 7-year-old with blunt abdominal trauma has a rigid abdomen and tachycardia. Which organ is most commonly injured in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma?
Answer: Spleen
The spleen is the most commonly injured organ in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma due to its relatively unprotected position and large size.
Which pain scale is most appropriate for assessing pain in a 2-year-old pediatric trauma patient who cannot verbalize?
Answer: FLACC scale
The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is the validated tool for assessing pain in non-verbal and pre-verbal children.
A 5-year-old trauma patient is in compensated shock. Which vital sign finding best indicates early compensated shock in a pediatric patient?
Answer: Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
Children compensate effectively for blood loss by increasing heart rate while maintaining blood pressure until approximately 30–40% of blood volume is lost.
When immobilizing a pediatric patient on a long backboard, what modification is required for children under age 8?
Answer: Place padding under the torso to elevate the chest
In children under 8, the large occiput causes neck flexion on a flat board, so padding is placed under the torso (not the head) to maintain neutral cervical alignment.
A pediatric trauma patient weighing 15 kg presents in hemorrhagic shock. What is the initial isotonic crystalloid bolus volume per TNCC guidelines?
Answer: 300 mL
TNCC guidelines recommend an initial fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg isotonic crystalloid for pediatric hemorrhagic shock; 20 mL/kg × 15 kg = 300 mL.