Thoracic trauma: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:14, 17 July 2011

Must determine if injury also traverses the diaphragm (intra-abdominal injury)
- Most deaths in thoracic trauma pts are due to noncardiothoracic injuries
Excessive PPV can lead to reduced venous return, tension ptx (avoid excess bagging)
Place central lines on the SAME side as existing injury or PTX (prevent b/l ptx)
Hypotensive resuscitation in chest trauma may be beneficial
w/ pnetrating chest inj neuro defecit should incr suspicion of vasc inj b/c nv bundle run together

commotio cordis is most common cause of cardiac death in athlete. sudden death w/o abnl heart from trauma to cw at vent depolarization= vf & death.

esophageal inj is rare but bad & hard dx to make. rx=controversial if no sx. suspect if L htx or ptx w/o rib fx, or pneumomediastinum, d/t incr pressure of low chest/abd= tear in esoph!

Tintinalli's

Authors:

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 #[[Myocardial Contusion]]
-*Aortic transection: pt often asx, but die w/o warning, 80% die at scene, hypotension NOT from ruptured aorta (just die). see wide sup mediastinum on cxr (>8cm on supine film), nd high suspicion to dx! ct gd for aorta not branch vessels, if high suspicion nd aortography, the gold stndrd, but 1/4 hve complications ie inf & hematoma. Rx= keep sbp <120 w/ a & b blockers.
 *commotio cordis is most common cause of cardiac death in athlete. sudden death w/o abnl heart from trauma to cw at vent depolarization= vf & death.