When caring for a trauma patient with signs of intraabdominal bleeding, what is MOST important?

• A. Transport rapidly to an appropriate medical facility.
• B. Apply and inflate the pneumatic antishock garment.
• C. Perform an in-depth abdominal assessment.
• D. Auscultate bowel sounds for at least 2 minutes.

Answer: (A)

When intraabdominal bleeding is suspected, getting the patient to definitive care as quickly as possible is the most important step. Internal hemorrhage often progresses rapidly, and the critical treatment—surgical intervention or interventional radiology to control the source—is available only at a hospital. Delaying transport in order to perform in-depth abdominal exams or to apply devices that haven’t shown clear survival benefits can waste precious minutes and worsen outcomes. In particular, a pneumatic antishock garment is not routinely used today because it may delay transport and hasn’t demonstrated consistent improvement in survival for intraabdominal bleeding. Instead, provide high‑quality basic life support, establish IV access, administer oxygen, keep the patient warm, and move promptly to a facility equipped for definitive care.