Chapter23.ppt.pptVIP

Copyright 2005 by Thomson Delmar Learning. All rights reserved. Chapter 23 Chest and Abdominal Trauma Overview Anatomy Review Chest Trauma Chest Injuries Abdominal Trauma Abdominal Injuries Anatomy Review Thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity: two spaces in the trunk of the body They contain some of the body’s most important organs Chest Trauma Chest injuries result in a significant number of deaths each year The chest contains organs vital to life Damage to vital organs threatens life Most common consequence is hypoxia Chest Trauma Mechanism of injury (MOI): Blunt chest trauma Most common cause of serious chest injuries Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), falls, direct blows, and crushing injuries Many injuries are not immediately apparent in physical exam Chest Trauma Mechanism of injury (MOI): Blunt chest trauma Injuries linked to size of object applying force and most important, to speed Speed kills Chest Trauma MOI: Blunt chest trauma Evaluating MOI at a motor vehicle collision Significant damage to vehicle’s exterior? Damage to interior of vehicle? Broken or bent steering wheel means significant force was applied to the driver’s chest The higher the forces, the higher the suspicion for serious injury to patient Chest Trauma MOI: Penetrating trauma Increasingly common in today’s society Immediate result can be severe bleeding or impaired breathing Chest Trauma MOI: Penetrating trauma Any chest wound can involve underlying organ injury No matter how superficial it looks Injuries to the heart, lungs, and great vessels can quickly lead to shock and cardiac arrest Chest Trauma Signs and symptoms Most common symptoms: pain and difficulty breathing Signs are obvious injury to the chest wall Use DCAP-BTLS, looking at both the front and back of the chest Note any subcutaneous emphysema, or air present under the skin Chest Trauma Assessment Follow all steps in the assessment of the trauma patient Chest Trauma Management Ensure patient has adequate oxygenation