Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Resource to Ensure Exam Success!

The primary concern when caring for a patient with a head injury is monitoring for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and potential neurological deterioration. This is critical because head injuries can lead to significant swelling or bleeding within the cranial cavity, which can elevate the pressure inside the skull. Increased ICP can result in further brain injury, loss of consciousness, and can compromise cerebral blood flow, leading to herniation and potentially fatal outcomes.

Proactive monitoring allows healthcare providers to identify changes in the patient's neurological status quickly, enabling timely interventions to prevent secondary brain injury. While assessing facial fractures, evaluating external bleeding, and determining the patient’s level of consciousness are also important aspects of head injury management, they do not take precedence over the immediate need to prevent the serious complications associated with rising ICP. Focusing on ICP allows for more effective prehospital care and decision-making.