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You are dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on a rural mountain highway. You have a patient who was unconscious on arrival, had a seizure, and is currently awake but combative. You suspect he may have a head injury. What is considered the BEST approach regarding transport of this patient?

A. Begin transport to the trauma center on the ground, which is 1.5 hours' driving time.
B. Transport to a local community hospital approximately 15 minutes away via ground.
C. Dispatch the medical helicopter to meet your unit at the community hospital.
D. Dispatch and await the medical helicopter, which is 20 minutes away.

User Vance
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Final answer:

For a patient suspected of a severe head injury post-MVA, dispatching and awaiting the arrival of a medical helicopter is the best transport option due to the reduced travel time and advanced support provided en route to a trauma center.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dealing with a patient who is unconscious and showing signs of a head injury, as indicated by being combative post-seizure, rapid transport to a trauma center specializing in neurologic injuries is essential. However, the best approach needs to balance timeliness with the patient's immediate needs. Option D, dispatching and awaiting a medical helicopter, which is only 20 minutes away, would likely provide the fastest and most appropriate level of care given the suspected severe head injury and the need for neurosurgical intervention. The helicopter transport can reduce travel time significantly compared to ground transport and is equipped to provide advanced life support en route to the trauma center.

It is critical to consider that rapid assessment of neurological function in an emergency situation is important for determining the severity of the injury and guiding treatment decisions. Prompt transfer to a facility with the appropriate resources to manage such injuries is paramount, as per the principals established by Lt. R. Adams Cowley in shock trauma medicine, which emphasizes the importance of rapid medical intervention.

User Cwharris
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