There are different patterns of injury that can encountered after trauma. A sucking chest wound is a form of injury that results from a penetrating chest wound. Signs that you should look out for include, evidence of a wound, respiratory distress, foaming around the injured area, coughing of blood and a hissing sound when the individual is breathing in and out. However, some of them may be silent.
Upon suspecting this kind of injury, call emergency services immediately. Try to also call for another person or two within the vicinity to help as you wait for the emergency response team. In some situations, you may be instructed on what to do by the emergency number operator. If such guidance is not available, there are a number of things you can do as you wait.
As is the case for any emergency, always ensure your own safety first. Before attending to the injured, wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Inspect the wound and look for any loose clothing or loosely hanging objects. Remove these carefully. Objects that appear to be stuck onto the area should not be extracted by force. Doing so is likely to worsen the injury and reduce the chances of survival.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
The complications resulting from this form of injury vary depending on the exact site injured. Deep injuries are likely to have the lungs involved and may lead to a potentially fatal complication known as tension pneumothorax. In this condition, air leaks from the lungs and builds up within the chest causing excess pressure on other organs such as the heart and major blood vessels.
Look out for an increasing level of respiratory distress. This is often manifested by rapid shallow breaths. There may be associated enforcement of neck pains and crackles under the skin. All these are highly suggestive of tension pneumothorax and mean that the seal should be opened so as to relieve the pressure. If the patient ceases to breath and their stops beating, there is a need to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation as you wait on the emergency response team.
Getting the patient to a hospital should be done expeditiously. Because of the strain associated with this kind of injury, oxygen therapy is vital. At the same time, a doctor will need to let out as much of the air that has already been sucked in as possible. This is done by placement of what is known as a chest drain. The drain remains in place for hours or days.
In cases where appropriate first aid measures are undertaken and the surgical intervention availed in time, the prognosis is almost always favourable. Remember that the area affected is delicate and a second lost could be the difference between life and death. A week or two of hospital stay are usually required before one can be discharged. A longer recovery period will be needed if the patient sustained multiple injuries. Full recovery takes three to six months.
Upon suspecting this kind of injury, call emergency services immediately. Try to also call for another person or two within the vicinity to help as you wait for the emergency response team. In some situations, you may be instructed on what to do by the emergency number operator. If such guidance is not available, there are a number of things you can do as you wait.
As is the case for any emergency, always ensure your own safety first. Before attending to the injured, wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Inspect the wound and look for any loose clothing or loosely hanging objects. Remove these carefully. Objects that appear to be stuck onto the area should not be extracted by force. Doing so is likely to worsen the injury and reduce the chances of survival.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
The complications resulting from this form of injury vary depending on the exact site injured. Deep injuries are likely to have the lungs involved and may lead to a potentially fatal complication known as tension pneumothorax. In this condition, air leaks from the lungs and builds up within the chest causing excess pressure on other organs such as the heart and major blood vessels.
Look out for an increasing level of respiratory distress. This is often manifested by rapid shallow breaths. There may be associated enforcement of neck pains and crackles under the skin. All these are highly suggestive of tension pneumothorax and mean that the seal should be opened so as to relieve the pressure. If the patient ceases to breath and their stops beating, there is a need to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation as you wait on the emergency response team.
Getting the patient to a hospital should be done expeditiously. Because of the strain associated with this kind of injury, oxygen therapy is vital. At the same time, a doctor will need to let out as much of the air that has already been sucked in as possible. This is done by placement of what is known as a chest drain. The drain remains in place for hours or days.
In cases where appropriate first aid measures are undertaken and the surgical intervention availed in time, the prognosis is almost always favourable. Remember that the area affected is delicate and a second lost could be the difference between life and death. A week or two of hospital stay are usually required before one can be discharged. A longer recovery period will be needed if the patient sustained multiple injuries. Full recovery takes three to six months.
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