Thoracic Trauma

The EP must quickly identify and treat all life-threatening conditions and constantly monitor the patient for deterioration during subsequent examination and management. Both blunt and penetrating injuries can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Rapid deceleration may also bring about subtle, although potentially life-threatening, processes

Causes

• Falls
• Blunt Trauma
• PENETRATING TRAUMA

Signs

• Dyspnea
• Hypoxemia
• Shock
• Hemoptysis
• Decreased breath sounds
• Tracheal deviation
• Distended neck veins
• Asymmetric chest excursion
• Abrasions
• Contusions
• Dullness, hyperresonance
• Subcutaneous emphysema
• Irregular pulse
• Bowel sounds in chest

Treatment

Not clear