Chest Trauma Flashcards
Blunt trauma vs. Penetrating trauma
Blunt: when the chest strikes or is struck by an object
Penetrating: a foreign object passes through the body creating an opening
How does chest trauma affect ABGs?
- Pt can’t take deep breaths/ shallow breathing
- Hypoventilation leads to hypercarbia and respiratory acidosis
Management of chest trauma
1) Asses ABCs/ensure airway
2) Give high flow O2
3) Establish IV access for fluid resuscitation
4) Remove clothing
5) Cover sucking chest wound with non porous dressing taped on 3 sides
6) Stabilize object with bulky dressing- do not remove
7) Semi Fowlers/ place Pt on affected side after cervical injury has been ruled out
8) Pain meds
9) Decompression if pneumothorax/ cardiac tamponade
2 emergency techniques to open up airway
The jaw thrust and chin lift.
Neck must be kept in neutral position for jaw thrust
Types of chest trauma
- Pneumothorax: air enters pleural cavity and causes total or partial lung collapse
- Hemothorax: accumulation of blood in the pleural space
- Tension pneumothorax: air in the pleural space that does not escape. Causes intrathoracic pressure to increase and the lung collapses
- Chylothorax: lymphatic fluid in the pleural space
S&S of pneumothorax
Dyspnea Diminished/Absent breath sounds on affected side Unequal lung expansion Decreased movement of chest wall Hyperresonance to percussion
Emergency Tx of pneumothorax vs. Definitive
Emergency: cover wound with an occlusive dressing taped on 3 sides
Definitive: chest tube insertion at the 4th or 5th ICS connected to water seal drainage
1) Open pneumothorax/sucking chest wound
2) Tx
3) What to do in an emergency?
4) What to do if Pt develops tension pneumothorax?
1) Air enters pleural space through an opening in the chest wall
2) Tx: cover with vented dressing taped on 3 sides. Do not remove object stabilize with bulky dressing
3) Cover wound with anything possible
4) Uncover wound
