Traumatic respiratory emergencies Ch 6

Question 0

How do you manage patients with profuse bleeding of the mouth or nose or who are actively vomiting

Answer 0

In the lateral position

Question 1

An attempt must be made to insert an oral airway in all patients who are

Answer 1

Unresponsive to verbal stimulation

Question 2

Limit Suctioning to how long

Answer 2

20 seconds at a time

Question 3

Four criteria for assisted ventilation

Answer 3

Respiratory rate less than 10 breaths per minute

Presence of cyanosis

Shallow and ineffective respiration

Severe respiratory distress

Question 4

Ventilate the patient how often?

Answer 4

once every five seconds, time with the patients inhalation if possible

Question 5

Gen. signs and symptoms of chest injuries

Answer 5

Pain at the injury site

Pleuritic pain that is pain that is aggravated by breathing but is not produced by direct pressure on the chest wall at the site of the injury

Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing

Failure of one or both sides of the chest to expand normally

Coughing up blood

Rapid and weak pulse

Cool and or moist skin

Cyanosis that is blue color of the lips, fingernails, or earlobes

Subcutaneous emphysema that is air under the skin tissues

Anxiety and fear

Question 6

Signs and symptoms of rib fractures

Answer 6

History of a blow or compression injury to the chest

Pain at the fracture site or localized tenderness upon palpation

Deep breathing, coughing, or movement usually increases the pain at the fracture site

The patient may often lean toward the Injured side, holding the affected area to keep it in mobilized

The patient usually wishes to remain still

There may be a rib deformity and or chest wall bruising or laceration

Question 7

Defined flail chest

Answer 7

When two or more consecutive ribs are fractured into or more places or detached from the sternum

Question 8

Signs and symptoms of flail chest

Answer 8

History of blunt trauma to the chest

Paradoxical movement or deformity, visible on observing the naked chest

Marked shortness of breath and or respiratory distress

Pain in the fracture area

If the lungs are damaged, the patient may:
Cough up blood or frothy, bloody sputtum
Collapse or show signs of shock
Show signs of tension pneumothorax

Question 9

Define closed pneumothorax

Answer 9

Occurs when lung tissue is torn and air leaks from the lung into the pleural space. Air is therefore contained within the thoracic cavity but outside the lung.

Question 10

Define an open pneumothorax A.k.a. open, sucking chest wounds

Answer 10

With penetrating wounds of the chest wall, air enters the pleural space from outside the chest wall, thereby collapsing the lung.

Question 11

Signs and symptoms of an open pneumothorax

Answer 11

History of trauma to the chest

An open chest wound

A sucking sound as air passes through the opening in the chest wall

Blood or blood-stained bubbles expelled from the wound on exhalation

Coughing up blood

Possible exit wound

Question 12

Defined a tension pneumothorax

Answer 12

It is the accumulation of air in the pleural space under pressure. The air under tension collapses the lung on the side of the injury and then displaces the mediastinum away from the air-filled pleural space, partially collapsing the other lung.

Question 13

Signs and symptoms of tension pneumothorax

Answer 13

Severe progressive respiratory distress

Distended neck veins due to an obstruction of the superior vena cava

Marked overexpansion on the affected side of the chest

Subcutaneous emphysema

Agitation and restlessness

At deviation or shift of the trachea away from the side of the tension pneumothorax

Question 14

Define a spontaneous pneumothorax

Answer 14

A pneumothorax that develops without injury. Lungs can develop a weak area on their surface, which ruptures

Question 15

Define hemothorax

Answer 15

Occurs when blood collects within the plural space.

Question 16

Define pulmonary contusion

Answer 16

Bruising of the lung

Question 17

Signs and symptoms of a pulmonary contusion can appear when

Answer 17

Almost immediately in cases of severe injury and up to 12 to 24 hours after the injury

Question 18

Signs and symptoms of blast injuries

Answer 18

History of an explosion

Pain in the chest and or abdomen

Respiratory distress

Coughing, and frothy sputum which maybe bloodstained

Nausea or vomiting

Shock

A decreased LOC

Bloodshot eyes, minute red or blue spots on the face, neck and or upper chest cause by tiny hemorrhages

Abdominal tenderness and or rectal bleeding

Possible delayed onset of dyspnea, headache, chest pain, or shock

Question 19

Signs and symptoms of traumatic asphyxia

Answer 19

May have some or all of the general signs and symptoms of chest injury. Specific signs are:

Purple face, neck, and shoulders

Bloodshot eyes, which may bulge

Crushed chest

Cyanotic and swollen tongue and lips

Question 20

Pulmonary edema usually occurs when

Answer 20

May not be evident for many hours. It usually occurs 8 to 36 hours after the inhalation

Question 21

Signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation

Answer 21

Sore throat, hoarseness, shortness of breath, swallowing difficulties, and pain on deep inspiration

Cough, especially when it produces soot-tinged sputum

Headache or dizziness, restlessness, confusion, decreased LOC, sometimes convulsions

Respiratory distress with noisy, rapid respiration or a harsh dry cough

Cyanotic or pale-the cherry red appearance once thought to be associated with all carbon monoxide poisoning is, in fact, rarely seen

Facial burns, especially about the mouth and nose