13.07.2015 Views

Trauma Guideline Manual - SUNY Upstate Medical University

Trauma Guideline Manual - SUNY Upstate Medical University

Trauma Guideline Manual - SUNY Upstate Medical University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Trauma</strong> <strong>Guideline</strong> <strong>Manual</strong>______________<strong>Upstate</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>Trauma</strong> Center55PRACTICE GUIDELINES: MANAGEMENT OF BLUNT CHEST INJURIESOBJECTIVE:To define protocols for the diagnosis and management of specific chest injuries that arecommonly seen after blunt trauma.DEFINITION:Chest injury: Any injury to the thoracic cage and its contents, including the lungs, heart, greatvessels, diaphragm, trachea-bronchial tree and esophagus.GUIDELINES:1. Blunt chest injuries are characterized by:a. Mechanism:i. Severe blunt force applied to the chest.ii. Rapid deceleration injury.b. Signs:i. Chest wall deformityii. Chest wall contusioniii. Chest wall lacerationiv. Severe trauma above the chest (e.g., head injury) and below the chest (e.g.,abdominal or pelvic injury)c. Symptoms:i. Tachypneaii. Painiii. Absent breath soundsiv. Crepitus or subcutaneous emphysemav. Hemoptysisvi. Discordant breathing patternvii. Hypotensionviii. Distended neck veins2. With any of the above findings, consider the possibility of the following chest injuries:a. Tension pneumothoraxb. Open pneumothoraxc. Flail chest/pulmonary contusiond. Massive hemothoraxe. Cardiac tamponadef. Cardiac contusiong. Ruptured diaphragmh. Ruptured tracheobronchial treei. Ruptured thoracic aortaj. Ruptured esophagusk. Myocardial tearl. Simple pneumothoraxm. Fractured ribs3. Maintain airway:a. Intubate for respiratory distress or airway obstruction.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!