Pulmonary contusion

Revision as of 07:36, 5 April 2011 by Jswartz (talk | contribs)

Background

  • Direct damage to lung causing alveolar hemorrhage, edema, and debris accumulation

Diagnosis

  • Signs/symptoms
    • SOB
    • Tachypnea
    • Cyanosis
    • Hypotension
    • Rales
    • Hypoxia
    • Wide a-A

Imaging

  • CXR
    • Patchy irregular infiltrates
    • Always seen by 4-6 hr, always worse than what the 1st CXR shows
      • Do not treat the CXR, treat the patient
    • Flail chest almost always associated with contusion

Treatment

  • If need to intubate: low tidal volume, high PEEP


See Also

Source

  • Trauma Reports 4/04
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