Prioritizing Between Circulation and Airway in Trauma Patients: Reaching A Consensus

Jamshed Akhtar

Abstract

Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS) course, a benchmark training program for the treatment of an acutely injured patients, emphasize the use of a “common language”. This includes ABCDE approach in primary survey where life threatening injuries are treated by priority. The initial three alphabets; ABC are the key components of resuscitation. Airway is given precedence over all other conditions. This is because of likelihood of a multiply injured patient dying of airway obstruction rather than circulatory compromise. This traditional approach has continued till date although new evidence against this is also reported in literature.1………………