In the Secondary Survey, the letter L stands for which item?

• A. Last meal
• B. Location of injury
• C. Level of consciousness
• D. Lung function

Answer: (A)

In the secondary survey, the L in the AMPLE history stands for last oral intake (last meal). The secondary survey aims to gather a focused history to complement the head-to-toe exam, and AMPLE helps you do that quickly: Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events leading to injury.

Knowing the last meal is crucial for airway and anesthesia planning. If the patient has recently eaten, there’s an increased risk of aspiration during airway management or emergency surgery, which influences whether you use rapid-sequence induction, airway protective strategies, and timing of procedures. It also helps anticipate gastric contents and potential complications if intubation or surgery becomes necessary.

Other aspects—such as location of injury, level of consciousness, and lung function—are assessed in different parts of the trauma evaluation (physical exam and neurologic/breathing assessments), not under this specific history item.