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Advanced Trauma Life Support ATLS Student Course Manual 2018

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PRIMARY SURVEY: LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES 67<br />

Collapsed lung<br />

Pneumothorax<br />

Sucking<br />

chest wound<br />

n FIGURE 4-3 Open Pneumothorax. Large<br />

defects of the chest wall that remain open can<br />

result in an open pneumothorax, or sucking<br />

chest wound.<br />

Air<br />

or greater, air passes preferentially through the chest<br />

wall defect with each inspiration. Effective ventilation<br />

is thereby impaired, leading to hypoxia and hypercarbia.<br />

Open pneumothorax is commonly found and treated<br />

at the scene by prehospital personnel. The clinical signs<br />

and symptoms are pain, difficulty breathing, tachypnea,<br />

decreased breath sounds on the affected side, and noisy<br />

movement of air through the chest wall injury.<br />

For initial management of an open pneumothorax,<br />

promptly close the defect with a sterile dressing large<br />

enough to overlap the wound’s edges. Any occlusive<br />

dressing (e.g. plastic wrap or petrolatum gauze) may be<br />

used as temporary measure to enable rapid assessment to<br />

continue. Tape it securely on only three sides to provide a<br />

flutter-valve effect (n FIGURE 4-4). As the patient breathes<br />

in, the dressing occludes the wound, preventing air<br />

from entering. During exhalation, the open end of the<br />

<strong>Advanced</strong> <strong>Trauma</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>Support</strong> for Doctors<br />

dressing allows air to escape from the pleural space.<br />

<strong>Student</strong> <strong>Course</strong> <strong>Manual</strong>, 9e<br />

Taping all four edges of the dressing can cause air to<br />

American College of Surgeons<br />

accumulate in the thoracic cavity, resulting in a tension KB<br />

Figure# 04.04<br />

pneumothorax Dragonfly Media unless Groupa chest tube is in place. Place a<br />

chest 10/26/2011 tube remote from the wound as soon as possible. WC<br />

Subsequent definitive surgical closure of the wound is<br />

frequently required. (See Appendix G: Breathing Skills.)<br />

Massive Hemothorax<br />

The accumulation of >1500 ml of blood in one side of<br />

the chest with a massive hemothorax can significantly<br />

NP<br />

n FIGURE 4-4 Dressing for Treatment of Open Pneumothorax.<br />

Promptly close the defect with a sterile occlusive dressing that is large<br />

enough Approved to overlap the wound’s Changes edges. needed Tape it securely on three Date sides<br />

to provide a flutter-valve effect.<br />

Pitfall<br />

Tension<br />

pneumothorax<br />

develops after placing<br />

dressing over open<br />

chest wound.<br />

prevention<br />

• Ensure the occlusive<br />

dressing is secured only on<br />

three sides.<br />

• Treat pneumothorax with<br />

placement of chest tube<br />

through intact skin.<br />

n BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

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