Case Study- Blunt Chest Trauma

Abstract

Thoracic trauma accounts for 25% of all trauma fatalities and causes approximately 37,000 deaths in the United States each year. Pulmonary complications can be the result of direct chest trauma or can occur from indirect trauma outside the thorax. Blunt chest injuries range from a mild pulmonary contusion to a complete chamber rupture of the heart. Blunt chest trauma demands accurate assessments and rapid intervention to prevent unnecessary complications and death. The major objective in the initial management of patients with blunt chest trauma is the restoration and maintenance of normal cardiopulmonary function.

Objectives:

After completing this case study the learner should be able to:

1. Define key terms: (key terms are linked to glossary)
   • continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
   • differential lung ventilation
   • double lumen tube
   • Glasgow Coma Scale
   • hemothorax
   • high frequency positive pressure ventilation (HFPPV)
   • lung contusion
   • positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP)
   • pneumothorax
   • Swan-Ganz catheter
2. Identify potential causes of blunt chest trauma.
3. Identify complications of blunt chest trauma.
4. Explain differential lung ventilation.
5. List measurements that can be made from a pulmonary artery catheter.
6. Identify possible treatments and initial management for blunt chest trauma.