Ch. 30 Chest Injuries

Question 1

Cardiac tamponade (pericardial tamponade)

Answer 1

Compression of the heart as the result of buildup of blood or other fluid in the pericardial sac, leading to decreased cardiac output.

Question 2

Closed chest injury

Answer 2

An injury to the chest in which the slin is not broken, usually caused by blunt trauma.

Question 3

Commotio cordis

Answer 3

A blunt chest injury cuased by a sudden, direct blow to the chest that occurs only during the critical portion of a person’s heartbeat.

Question 4

Crepitus

Answer 4

A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together.

Question 5

Flail chest

Answer 5

A condition in which two or more adjacent ribs are fractured in tow or more places or in association with a fracture of the sternum so that a segment of the chest wall is effectively detached from the rest of the thoracic cage.

Question 6

Flutter valve

Answer 6

A one-way valve that allows air to leave the chest cavity but not return; formed by taping three sides of an occlusive dressingto the chest wall, leaving the fourth side open as a valve; may also be a commercial vented occlusive dressing.

Question 7

Hemopneumothorax

Answer 7

The accumulation of blood and air in the pleural cavity.

Question 8

Hemothorax

Answer 8

The accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity.

Question 9

Myocardial contusion

Answer 9

Bruising of the heart muscle.

Question 10

Occlusive dressing

Answer 10

An airtight dressing that protects a wound from air and bacteria; a commercial vented version allows air to passively escape from the chest, while an unvented dressing may be made of petrolatum gauze, aluminum foil, or plastic.

Question 11

Open chest injury

Answer 11

An injury to the chest in xhich the chest wall itself is penetrated by a fractured rib or, more frequently, by an external object such as a bullet or knife.

Question 12

Open pneumothorax

Answer 12

An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound; also referred to as a sucking chest wound.

Question 13

Paradoxical motion

Answer 13

The motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion - in during inhalation, out during exhalation - is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing.

Question 14

Pericardium

Answer 14

The fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.

Question 15

Pneumothorax

Answer 15

The accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Question 16

Pulmonary contusion

Answer 16

Injury or bruising of lung tissue that results in hemorrhage.

Question 17

Simple pneumothorax

Answer 17

Any pneumothorax that is free from significant physiologic changes and does not cause drastic changes in vital signs of the patient.

Question 18

Sucking chest wound

Answer 18

An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound. See also open pneumothorax.

Question 19

Tachypnea

Answer 19

Rapid respirations

Question 20

Tension pneumothorax

Answer 20

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity that progressively increases pressure in the chest that interferes with the cardiac function with potentially fatal results.

Question 21

Traumatic asphyxia

Answer 21

A pattern of injuries seen after a severe force is applied to the chest, forcing blood from the great vessels back into the head and neck.

Question 22

Vented chest seal

Answer 22

An occlusive dressing designed to allow air to escape through the dressing but not be drawn back in.