- The first thing that should come up in your mind when doing a physical exam on trauma patient is DCAP-BTLS.
DCAP-BTLS
noun; acronym
Eight critical physical signs in a trauma patient: Deformities, Contusion, Abrasion, Puncture, Bleeding, Tenderness, Laceration, and Swelling. The abbreviation and compounding of the 8 long words makes it easy to remember and retain.
Etymology : DCAP-BTLS. Acronym for 'Deformities, Contusion, Abrasion, Puncture, Bleeding, Tenderness, Laceration, and Swelling'
Source : EMT training class
Last modified: 10 June 2008