Exam (elaborations) MSN377

What are the two categories of chest/thoracic trauma? (Think mechanism of injury) - ANSWER 1.) Blunt trauma 2.) Penetrating trauma What are the five most common types of thoracic emergencies? - ANSWER Pneumothorax Hemothorax Tension pneumothorax Flail chest Cardiac tamponade What are the six different types of pneumothorax? - ANSWER Spontaneous: usually caused by sac rupture in lung Iatrogenic: hospital caused Traumatic: injury Tension: air unable to escape Hemothorax: blood collection Chylothorax: lymphatic or chylo fluid build up Is the pleural cavity under negative or positive pressure? What occurs if that pressure is compromised? - ANSWER Negative pressure: keeps lungs expanded If negative pressure system is compromised: lung will collapse Does air show up as white or black on an x-ray? - ANSWER Air = black on x-ray Which type of pneumothorax is a medical emergency? What makes this type of pneumothorax an emergency? - ANSWER Tension pneumothorax As pressure builds in the cavity without a place to escape, the organs of the thoracic cavity are pushed to the side opposite the pneumothorax -Compression of the vessels and heart decreases preload, which decreased cardiac output and causes hemodynamic instability What is the hallmark sign of a tension pneumothorax? - ANSWER Tracheal deviation to the unaffected side