Clinical Considerations of Lungs and Pleura Flashcards
1
Q
How does a rib fracture cause pneumothorax?
A
Fracture damages surface of lung, so air is released into pleural cavity
2
Q
How does a pneumothorax sound on percussion?
A
Hyper-resonant
3
Q
What can be caused if a rib fracture damages the blood vessels of the neurovascular bundle?
A
Haemothorax
4
Q
What is flail chest?
A
- 2 or more ribs fractured in 2 places
- Creates an isolated, independent section of chest wall
5
Q
Movement of the isolated section of chest wall from flail chest during inspiration and expiration
A
- Paradoxical movement
> Section sucked inwards during inspiration
> Section pushed outwards during expiration
6
Q
What is a tension pneumothorax?
A
Where air is drawn into the chest and cannot escape (eg. damage creating one-way valve)
7
Q
What is caused by tension pneumothorax?
A
- Increased pressure on mediastinal structures
- Results in change in position of structures
