Question

Your adult trauma patient has a potential internal injury allowing bleeding into the thoracic cavity. As a general rule, where should the patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) be maintained while treating and transporting the patient to the hospital?

A) MAP of 50 mmHg to 55 mmHg
B) MAP of 35 mmHg to 40 mmHg
C) MAP of 85 mmHg to 90 mmHg
D) MAP of 60 mmHg to 65 mmHg

Answer 1

For an adult trauma patient with potential internal bleeding in the thoracic cavity, the goal is to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) at a level that supports circulation without exacerbating bleeding, commonly using a target MAP of 60 mmHg to 65 mmHg until surgical intervention can be carried out.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) should be maintained to ensure adequate tissue perfusion without exacerbating bleeding. In the case of an adult trauma patient with a potential internal injury allowing bleeding into the thoracic cavity, the MAP should not be too high, as it might increase bleeding, nor too low, as it could lead to ischemia. Therefore, a lower target MAP, which often is referred to as permissive hypotension, is often used until surgical control of bleeding can be achieved.

The options provided suggest a range of possible MAP values to maintain. Given the information provided and the emergency setting described, a MAP of 60 mmHg to 65 mmHg would be a reasonable target to support circulation and minimize the risk of exacerbating the hemorrhage (Option D).

It is important to remember that clinical decisions on blood pressure targets should always be based on the patient's individual condition and the specific nature of their injuries, and they should be managed by a healthcare professional trained in trauma care.