Question

A patient has a gash in the center of their forehead that is oozing blood; blood is smeared across their face, hands, and shirt. The patient notes the injury occurred 15 minutes ago and does not complain of any additional symptoms. Primary Survey reveals tachycardia. What is the likely source of the bleeding and ideal treatment?

A - Arterial bleeding--direct pressure with gauze for 15 minutes on scene.
B - Arterial bleeding--direct pressure and emergent transport for surgical referral.
C - Capillary bleeding--direct pressure with gauze for 15 mins.
D - Capillary bleeding--direct pressure and emergent transport for surgical referral.

Answer 1

The bleeding from the patient's forehead gash is most likely capillary in nature, with the ideal treatment being direct pressure with gauze for 15 minutes. Arterial bleeding is less likely given the oozing nature and absence of a pulsating flow, which would require more aggressive management.

Step-by-step explanation:

The likely source of the bleeding from a gash in the center of a patient's forehead that is oozing blood and occurred 15 minutes ago is capillary bleeding rather than arterial bleeding. This is suggested by the oozing nature of the blood and the lack of other symptoms such as a pulsating flow that are typically associated with arterial bleeding. Tachycardia could result from a stress response but does not directly indicate the type of bleeding.

The ideal treatment in this scenario would be answer C - Capillary bleeding--direct pressure with gauze for 15 mins. Direct pressure on the wound with gauze will help to stop the bleeding by allowing clots to form. This can be enhanced by maintaining pressure on the wound and elevating the wound above the heart level if possible, to reduce blood flow to the area. After the bleeding has been controlled, the patient should be monitored for signs of shock or other complications and receive further medical evaluation as necessary.