Comprehensive Nursing Practice
Normal Arterial Blood Gas Values - --
ANSWER---pH- 7.35-7.45
PaO2- 80-100
PCO2- 35-45
HCO3- 21-28
Blunt trauma to thoracic cavity - --
ANSWER---No communication between the
damaged tissues and the outside
environment.
Frequently caused by MV accidents, falls,
assaults and sports injuries
,Penetrating trauma to thoracic cavity - --
ANSWER---Occurs when a foreign object
enters the body.
Eg. gunshot, stab wound and impalement
What is a flail chest - --ANSWER---Occurs
when a segment of the rib cage breaks due
to trauma and becomes detached from the
rest of the chest wall. Two of the symptoms
are chest pain and shortness of breath
What is a pulmonary contusion - --
ANSWER---Injury to lung tissue (bruising)
either unilaterally or bilaterally. Results
when alveoli and pulmonary arterials
rupture, causing alveolar haemorrhage and
bronchial oedema. Interferes with gas
exchange potentially leading to inadequate
oxygen levels (hypoxia).
What is cardiac tamponade? - --ANSWER--
-collection of fluid (blood or fluid) in
,pericardial sac, causing life threatening
myocardial compression
Define traumatic pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Air in the pleural space
resulting from trauma and causing partial or
complete lung collapse
Define tension pneumothorax. - --
ANSWER---Life-threatening injury. Air
enters pleural space on inspiration, but air
cannot escape on expiration. Rising
intrathoracic pressure collapses lung on
side of injury causing a mediastinal shift
that compresses the heart, great vessels,
trachea and uninjured lung. Venous return
impeded, cardiac output falls, hypotension
results.
Define spontaneous pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---A sudden onset of a collapsed
lung without any apparent cause
, Pathophysiology of pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Air accumulates in the plural
space due to a breach in the visceral or
parietal pleura, which impairs oxygenation
and/or ventilation
Pathophysiology of haemothorax - --
ANSWER---Occurs when blood
accumulates in the pleural space,
increasing pressure on the lung, which
impairs ventilation and gas exchange. Can
result from blunt or penetrating chest
trauma, surgery or diagnostic procedures
Signs and symptoms of pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea,
increased RR, HR and SOB, hyper
resonant percussion tone, absent breath
sounds around affected area, GCS
decrease, fluid volume deficit, decrease in
cardiac output
Normal Arterial Blood Gas Values - --
ANSWER---pH- 7.35-7.45
PaO2- 80-100
PCO2- 35-45
HCO3- 21-28
Blunt trauma to thoracic cavity - --
ANSWER---No communication between the
damaged tissues and the outside
environment.
Frequently caused by MV accidents, falls,
assaults and sports injuries
,Penetrating trauma to thoracic cavity - --
ANSWER---Occurs when a foreign object
enters the body.
Eg. gunshot, stab wound and impalement
What is a flail chest - --ANSWER---Occurs
when a segment of the rib cage breaks due
to trauma and becomes detached from the
rest of the chest wall. Two of the symptoms
are chest pain and shortness of breath
What is a pulmonary contusion - --
ANSWER---Injury to lung tissue (bruising)
either unilaterally or bilaterally. Results
when alveoli and pulmonary arterials
rupture, causing alveolar haemorrhage and
bronchial oedema. Interferes with gas
exchange potentially leading to inadequate
oxygen levels (hypoxia).
What is cardiac tamponade? - --ANSWER--
-collection of fluid (blood or fluid) in
,pericardial sac, causing life threatening
myocardial compression
Define traumatic pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Air in the pleural space
resulting from trauma and causing partial or
complete lung collapse
Define tension pneumothorax. - --
ANSWER---Life-threatening injury. Air
enters pleural space on inspiration, but air
cannot escape on expiration. Rising
intrathoracic pressure collapses lung on
side of injury causing a mediastinal shift
that compresses the heart, great vessels,
trachea and uninjured lung. Venous return
impeded, cardiac output falls, hypotension
results.
Define spontaneous pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---A sudden onset of a collapsed
lung without any apparent cause
, Pathophysiology of pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Air accumulates in the plural
space due to a breach in the visceral or
parietal pleura, which impairs oxygenation
and/or ventilation
Pathophysiology of haemothorax - --
ANSWER---Occurs when blood
accumulates in the pleural space,
increasing pressure on the lung, which
impairs ventilation and gas exchange. Can
result from blunt or penetrating chest
trauma, surgery or diagnostic procedures
Signs and symptoms of pneumothorax - --
ANSWER---Pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea,
increased RR, HR and SOB, hyper
resonant percussion tone, absent breath
sounds around affected area, GCS
decrease, fluid volume deficit, decrease in
cardiac output
