During a MACE 2 exam on a suspected TBI patient, who develops a severe headache and vomiting, which action should be avoided?

During a MACE 2 exam on a suspected TBI patient, who develops a severe headache and vomiting, which action should be avoided?

• A. Continue with the MACE exam
• B. Stop the exam and reassess
• C. Administer analgesia
• D. Stabilize the patient

Answer: (A)

In a suspected traumatic brain injury, new severe headache and vomiting are red flags that point to possible intracranial pathology or rising intracranial pressure. If these signs appear during a MACE 2 exam, you should pause the ongoing assessment and reassess the patient rather than pressing on. Continuing the exam without rechecking airway, breathing, circulation, and neurologic status can delay urgent actions, such as securing the airway, ensuring adequate ventilation, stabilizing the cervical spine, and preparing for rapid transport. Stabilizing the patient now helps prevent secondary brain injury. Analgesia can be considered later, after airway and breathing are secure and the patient is stabilized, to manage pain without compromising monitoring or airway control. So, the action to avoid is continuing with the exam despite these red flags.

In a suspected traumatic brain injury, new severe headache and vomiting are red flags that point to possible intracranial pathology or rising intracranial pressure. If these signs appear during a MACE 2 exam, you should pause the ongoing assessment and reassess the patient rather than pressing on. Continuing the exam without rechecking airway, breathing, circulation, and neurologic status can delay urgent actions, such as securing the airway, ensuring adequate ventilation, stabilizing the cervical spine, and preparing for rapid transport. Stabilizing the patient now helps prevent secondary brain injury. Analgesia can be considered later, after airway and breathing are secure and the patient is stabilized, to manage pain without compromising monitoring or airway control. So, the action to avoid is continuing with the exam despite these red flags.