Question

A 56-year- male patient involved in a MVC is brought to the ED of a rural critical access facility. He c/o neck pain, SOB, and diffuse abd pain. His GCS is 15. His vitals are as follows ___________.

BP 98/71
HR 125 beats/min
RR 26 breaths/min
SpO₂ 94

Which of the following is the priority intervention for this patient?
1) Administer oxygen
2) Administer pain medication
3) Stabilize the cervical spine
4) Order a CT scan of the abdomen

Answer 1

The priority intervention for the patient would be to stabilize the cervical spine, followed by administering supplementary oxygen. Pain medication and CT scan of the abdomen are secondary considerations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority intervention for a 56-year-old male patient presenting to the emergency department (ED) after a motor vehicle collision (MVC), who complains of neck pain, shortness of breath (SOB), and diffuse abdominal pain, would be to stabilize the cervical spine. Given the patient's complaints of neck pain and the mechanism of injury, it is critical to prevent any potential spinal cord injury, which could result in permanent disability or death. While the patient's vitals show hypotension and tachycardia, indicating possible shock, and a slightly decreased blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) level, the immediate life-threatening concern in the context of trauma is to secure the cervical spine.

Once the cervical spine is stabilized, supplementary oxygen can be administered to address the SpO₂ of 94%, which is slightly below the normal range. However, administration of pain medication should be approached with caution, as it may complicate the assessment of the patient's neurological status and contribute to hypotension. A CT scan of the abdomen may be considered after initial stabilization to evaluate the cause of the abdominal pain, but it is not the priority at the time of admission.