For a patient with facial trauma, what is the priority during your assessment?

The priority for a patient with facial trauma is to assess the airway. Facial injuries can compromise the airway due to swelling, bleeding, or structural disruptions. Ensuring that the airway is patent is critical, as any obstruction can lead to hypoxia, respiratory distress, or even respiratory failure. In cases of significant facial trauma, the airway may be at risk from both anatomical shifts caused by fractures and the potential for blood or other secretions to obstruct breathing.

When assessing the airway, it's essential to look for signs of distress, such as stridor or muffled voice, and to prepare for interventions like suctioning if necessary. If the airway is compromised, it may require immediate interventions like advanced airway management.

While assisting ventilations with a bag-valve mask is an important component of patient management, it should occur following the assessment of the airway to determine if and how ventilation needs to be assisted. Other considerations like spinal immobilization and locating dislodged teeth are also important but secondary to ensuring that the airway is secure and functional first.