Because of the emergent nature of the trauma setting, preoperative tests and imaging studies are frequently limited. If the patient is hemodynamically unstable, preoperative evaluation is aborted and the patient is taken directly to the operating room.

If the patient is stable, a portable chest radiograph, arterial blood gas analysis, complete blood count, and FAST can be done in a relatively short period in the resuscitation bay before surgery. Often, these tests are obtained while the patient is being prepared for emergency surgery. This information is then combined with other primary survey adjuncts, such as oxygen saturation and ECG, to evaluate the patient and formulate an appropriate management strategy. Although it is usually not possible to clinically clear the cervical spine before surgery, it is important to know the results of any radiologic studies that have been done (eg, in order to rule out an unstable cervical spine fracture) and to adjust the anesthetic plan accordingly.