How do you treat a open chest injury?

Chest Injury Treatment

1. Begin CPR, if Necessary.
2. Cover an Open Wound.
3. Stop Bleeding, if Necessary.
4. Position Person to Make Breathing Easier.
5. Monitor Breathing.
6. Follow Up.

How is open pneumothorax treated?

For an open pneumothorax, treatment requires sealing the open wound with an occlusive dressing. This is often taught by using Vaseline gauze and securing the gauze to the patient’s chest with tape.

Should you cover a penetrating chest wound?

The wound should be left open to fresh air if possible, to allow air to escape to prevent tension pneumothorax. Therefore, the first aider should not cover the wound with a dressing. If the wound is bleeding, direct pressure should be applied around the wound without blocking the hole.

What is the other name of open chest wound?

A sucking chest wound (SCW) happens when an injury causes a hole to open in your chest. SCWs are often caused by stabbing, gunshots, or other injuries that penetrate the chest. Signs of an SCW include: an opening in the chest, about the size of a coin.

What happens with an open chest wound?

An open pneumothorax allows air to enter during inspiration and exit during expiration causing the lung to collapse and fall away from the chest wall creating a pleural space. This free-flowing wound is often referred to as a “sucking chest wound”.

What are the complications of chest injury?

Although there are a wide range of complications following thoracic trauma, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and pleural sepsis are the most common potentially preventable problems. Respiratory failure and pneumonia are directly related to the severity of the injury and the age and condition of the patient.

What should you do for a person that is showing signs of shock?

Seek emergency medical care Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly, unless you think this may cause pain or further injury. Keep the person still and don’t move him or her unless necessary. Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life, such as not breathing, coughing or moving.

How does a sucking chest wound work?

In the sucking chest wound, air is sucked into the thoracic cavity through the chest wall instead of into the lungs through the airways. This occurs because air follows the path of least resistance. When the hole in the chest wall approaches 66% of the width of the trachea, a sucking chest wound can occur.

What is the usual cause of open pneumothorax?

(Sucking Chest Wound) An open pneumothorax occurs when air accumulates between the chest wall and the lung as the result of an open chest wound or other physical defect. The larger the opening, the greater the degree of lung collapse and difficulty of breathing.

Why must you seal an open chest wound?

Since air can pass through a dressing, you must seal an open chest wound to stop air from entering the chest and collapsing the lung.

What are the steps to treat an open chest wound?

Seal the sucking chest wound. Put something plastic (preferably sterile or at least clean) over the hole and tape it down. You can use a first aid device called a chest seal for this. Or, another trick is to use the packaging that sterile dressings come in. Peel open the packaging and tape the entire plastic portion over the sucking chest wound.

What is the treatment for an open chest wound?

Chest trauma assessment and treatment Primary assessment treatments. Based on the mechanism of injury, consider manual stabilization of the cervical spine until a more complete spinal exam can be accomplished. Seal chest wounds. Any open chest wound should be sealed as soon as it is found, using the palm of a gloved had at first, followed by an occlusive Relieve tension pneumothorax.

What is a sign or sympton of an open chest wound?

Signs and symptoms of a penetrating chest wound history of the incident object still in place open wound in the chest wall (look for both entry and exit wounds) pale, cool, clammy skin rapid, weak pulse rapid, shallow breathing cyanosis may be pain at the site onset of shock

Why to seal an opend chest wound?

Since air can pass through a dressing, you must seal an open chest wound to stop air from entering the chest and collapsing the lung. Tear open one end of the plastic wrapper of a field dressing.