Question

What is lethal diamond in trauma victim?

Hint:

The lethal diamond is composed of four factors—hypoxia, hypovolemia, acidosis, and coagulopathy—that contribute to high mortality in trauma patients.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the lethal diamond.
The lethal diamond refers to the four key factors that contribute to high mortality in trauma patients. These factors are:

Hypoxia: Insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues, which is often due to respiratory failure or shock.

Hypovolemia: Significant blood loss leading to inadequate circulating blood volume, resulting in shock.

Acidosis: A condition where blood pH decreases due to lactic acid buildup, commonly seen in trauma patients with shock or respiratory failure.

Coagulopathy: A disruption in the blood’s ability to clot, often a result of blood loss, hypothermia, or massive transfusion.


Step 2: Impact of lethal diamond.
When these factors are present simultaneously, they form a vicious cycle that worsens the patient's condition, leading to increased mortality. Effective trauma care involves addressing each of these elements to prevent death in trauma victims.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The lethal diamond is a critical concept in trauma care, highlighting the need for early intervention to correct hypoxia, hypovolemia, acidosis, and coagulopathy to improve survival chances.