Chest Injury

Subject: Medical and Surgical Nursing I (Theory)

Overview

Any physical harm to the chest, especially to the ribs, heart, and lungs, is referred to as a chest injury. Typically, chest injuries are caused by blunt forces like car accidents or penetrating forces like stabbings with clinical signs like A chest injury is indicated by difficulty breathing, inability of the chest to expand properly, rib-crunching noises, bruises, and coughing up blood. nursing leadership

It is not advisable to remove an item that is still inside the chest wound.
Any hole that extends into the chest cavity should be sealed as soon as possible with an airtight dressing, such as tin foil or a plastic bag.
The wounded side should be facing down as the injured individual is placed.

Chest Injury

Any physical harm to the chest, including to the ribs, heart, and lungs, is referred to as a chest injury. 25% of all traumatic injury deaths are due to chest injuries. The most common mechanisms that result in chest injuries are blunt ones, like car accidents, or penetrating ones, like stabbings.

Chest Injury Symptoms

  • A chest injury is indicated by difficulty breathing, inability of the chest to expand normally, rib-crunching sounds, bruising, and coughing up blood.
  • It's possible for one section of the chest wall to either move in opposition to the rest of the chest wall or not move at all.
  • An important internal injury can happen even when there is no obvious external damage.

Pathophysiology

The main pathophysiologies seen in blunt chest trauma are abnormalities in the flow of blood, air, or both alone or together. It's important to take into account sepsis brought on by esophageal perforations or other gastrointestinal tract leaks.

Chest wall injuries are frequently caused by blunt trauma (eg, rib fractures). Breathing can become difficult as a result of these injuries' discomfort, which could impede ventilation. Major chest trauma is frequently accompanied by direct lung injuries, such as pulmonary contusions (see the illustration below), which may impede ventilation through a similar mechanism. These wounds can also cause shunting and dead-space ventilation, which can reduce oxygenation.

Diagnosis

  • Chest x-ray.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI.

 Nursing Management

  • It is not advisable to remove an item that is still inside the chest wound.
  • Any hole that extends into the chest cavity should be sealed as soon as possible with an airtight dressing, such as tin foil or a plastic bag.
  • The injured side should be facing down as the injured person is placed.
  • Give the injured person pure oxygen to breathe.
  • After a potential chest injury, the injured person's neck and back should be immobilized.
  • CPR might be required.

References

  •  
  • http://www.emedicinehealth.com/wilderness_chest_injuries/article_em.htm
  • https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/chest-injury-symptoms
  • https://sfgh.surgery.ucsf.edu/media/2741426/lecture%205%20chest%20trauma.pdf
  • www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/types-of-chest-injuries-topic-overview
  • www.msdmanuals.com › Home › Injuries and Poisoning › Chest Injuries
  • www.trauma.org/archive/thoracic/CHESTflail.html
Things to remember
  • It is not advisable to remove an item that is still inside the chest wound.
  • Any hole that extends into the chest cavity should be sealed as soon as possible with an airtight dressing, such as tin foil or a plastic bag.
  • The wounded side should be facing down as the injured individual is placed.
  • Give the injured individual pure oxygen to breathe.
  • After a potential chest injury, the wounded person's neck and back should be immobilized.
  • CPR could be required.

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