The cause of most, if not all, sucking wounds are penetrating chest injuries. The most obvious sign that someone has sustained a sucking chest wound is when there is evidence of an open wound and a sucking or hissing sound when they are breathing in and out. However, these may not always be present.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As precautionary measure, ensure that you are not in danger even as you strive to sort out the injured. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly and put on a pair of gloves to protect yourself and the victim. Identify any loose objects or clothes and remove them from the wound.
The objective is to make sure that no more air gets sucked in. All the open wounds should be sealed by use of tape. If a tape is not available then any air right material such as plastic strip can be used. The palm of the hand can be used as a last resort if there is no other option.
Depending on the nature of the injury, there may be a number of complications noted immediately or later. If the lung is punctured, there is a high risk of a condition known as tension pneumothorax. The underlying problem here is the escape of air from the lungs and entrapment within the chest cavity. The resultant pressure impedes circulation and may cause death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
It is important that the patient be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Apart from being stabilized with oxygen therapy, they will require operative management aimed at releasing the air that has been sucked in. This is usually achieved by fixation of a drainage tube that is continuous with an under water seal. This drain may be retained for a few days.
If you give the right stabilization measures and the patient makes it to hospital for there operation, there is a very high likelihood of survival. The most important thing to remember is that time is of great essence and a second lost may make the difference between survival and death. On average, one will be retained in the hospital for a period of seven to ten days. Resumption of regular routine takes between three and six months.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As precautionary measure, ensure that you are not in danger even as you strive to sort out the injured. It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly and put on a pair of gloves to protect yourself and the victim. Identify any loose objects or clothes and remove them from the wound.
The objective is to make sure that no more air gets sucked in. All the open wounds should be sealed by use of tape. If a tape is not available then any air right material such as plastic strip can be used. The palm of the hand can be used as a last resort if there is no other option.
Depending on the nature of the injury, there may be a number of complications noted immediately or later. If the lung is punctured, there is a high risk of a condition known as tension pneumothorax. The underlying problem here is the escape of air from the lungs and entrapment within the chest cavity. The resultant pressure impedes circulation and may cause death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
It is important that the patient be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Apart from being stabilized with oxygen therapy, they will require operative management aimed at releasing the air that has been sucked in. This is usually achieved by fixation of a drainage tube that is continuous with an under water seal. This drain may be retained for a few days.
If you give the right stabilization measures and the patient makes it to hospital for there operation, there is a very high likelihood of survival. The most important thing to remember is that time is of great essence and a second lost may make the difference between survival and death. On average, one will be retained in the hospital for a period of seven to ten days. Resumption of regular routine takes between three and six months.
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