There are different patterns of injury that can encountered after trauma. A sucking chest wound is a form of injury that results from a penetrating chest wound. Signs that you should look out for include, evidence of a wound, respiratory distress, foaming around the injured area, coughing of blood and a hissing sound when the individual is breathing in and out. However, some of them may be silent.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As precautionary measure, ensure that you are not in danger even as you strive to sort out the injured. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly and put on a pair of gloves to protect yourself and the victim. Identify any loose objects or clothes and remove them from the wound.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
One of the most dreaded complications of this condition is what is known as tension pneumothorax. This complication tends to follow lung lacerations. Air escapes from the lungs and is trapped within the chest cavity. It increases progressively to the extent of interfering with the circulatory system and leading to death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
It is important that the patient be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Apart from being stabilized with oxygen therapy, they will require operative management aimed at releasing the air that has been sucked in. This is usually achieved by fixation of a drainage tube that is continuous with an under water seal. This drain may be retained for a few days.
Fortunately if treatment is undertaken promptly, there is good chance of recovery. In case of delays, however, death is almost certain. One may require a week or two to be discharged from hospital or a little longer if they sustained other injuries as well. Full recovery requires a couple of months.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As precautionary measure, ensure that you are not in danger even as you strive to sort out the injured. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly and put on a pair of gloves to protect yourself and the victim. Identify any loose objects or clothes and remove them from the wound.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
One of the most dreaded complications of this condition is what is known as tension pneumothorax. This complication tends to follow lung lacerations. Air escapes from the lungs and is trapped within the chest cavity. It increases progressively to the extent of interfering with the circulatory system and leading to death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
It is important that the patient be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Apart from being stabilized with oxygen therapy, they will require operative management aimed at releasing the air that has been sucked in. This is usually achieved by fixation of a drainage tube that is continuous with an under water seal. This drain may be retained for a few days.
Fortunately if treatment is undertaken promptly, there is good chance of recovery. In case of delays, however, death is almost certain. One may require a week or two to be discharged from hospital or a little longer if they sustained other injuries as well. Full recovery requires a couple of months.
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