Most often, a lung injury is a consequence of a chest injury. Such damage is closed, and it can be received from impact, squeezing or concussion. In the most severe degrees of the disease, blood vessels and bronchi can be damaged. Very often there are hemorrhages.
There are times when a bruised lung causes the formation of cavities filled with air or blood. At the same time, the shell that covers the lungs is not damaged at all.
Lung contusion: symptoms
The very first sign that patients focus on is severe pain in the lung area. With a deep breath, this pain increases many times over. Extremely unpleasant sensations can appear when bending over and in any other position of the body.
If bloody expectoration is noticed, then a lung contusion is not excluded. Symptoms less common are tachycardia and blue skin.
If the injuries were severe, then the injured person may have rapid breathing and shock. Very often the body lacks oxygen.
On the outside of the chest oftennoticeable bleeding, bruising and swelling.
Lung contusion may not be immediately apparent. Especially if the chest and ribs are damaged. Therefore, the patient may not even understand the extent of the damage.
There have been cases of pneumonia due to lung injury. It can be either focal or croupous.
Injury Causes
According to medical information, severe pulmonary contusion is the result of closed chest injuries. Such an injury can be caused by falling from a very great height or hitting the steering wheel of a car during a traffic accident. Explosions and stab wounds are not ruled out. Usually, the heart, ribs, and chest itself are also affected along with the contusion of the lungs.
Diagnosis
A lung contusion can be diagnosed in several ways:
1) During a superficial inspection. This procedure involves examining the chest. If a hemorrhage is noticed on it, then the lungs can be injured.
2) With the help of ultrasound. If there is a damaged area, an echo-positive shadow will be displayed on the screen.
3) Severe lung injury can be determined while listening to the organ. This can be done by simply resting your ear or using a stethoscope.
4) Using an X-ray, you can determine the bruise due to the polymorphic darkening of the lung in the injured area.
5) Examination of the lungs with a bronchoscope. It is a hollow tube with a light source at the end. Thus, swelling can be seenbronchial tubes or accumulations of blood.
Emergency
If a victim is diagnosed with a lung injury at first glance, treatment should be provided immediately. First aid can help manage pain, minimize symptoms, and relieve symptoms.
To do this, apply a cold compress to the bruised area. A frozen bottle or ice pack can be used for this purpose. Apply this compress periodically for a few minutes.
You don't need to keep the compress too long. This can cause frostbite or colds.
Give the victim complete rest. It is advisable to place it in a horizontal position and make sure that the patient moves as little as possible. The first time after an injury, it is best to keep the injured person in a semi-sitting position. Before the arrival of the doctor, you should not use any medications. This can only make matters worse.
Pneumothorax
During a chest injury, a patient may experience two serious conditions. These include pneumothorax and hemothorax.
Pulmonary contusion (symptoms and treatment are determined at the time of diagnosis) is a rather difficult injury that requires urgent attention from a specialist.
Pneumothorax is the accumulation of air in the pleural region. Such a lesion most often occurs with fractures of the ribs, stab wounds to the chest, or during trauma to the chest. With a complex degree of the disease, a wound occurs, into which a large amount ofair. In this case, the damaged part of the lung becomes inoperable. The most difficult case is valvular pneumothorax. Air enters but cannot exit. Thus, with each breath in the cavity, the pressure increases.
This condition can cause a strong shock. Without emergency surgery, the victim may die.
If a person has an open wound in the chest, then first of all it is necessary to seal it with improvised means. You can use a bag, oilcloth or film. Secure on the sides with bandages, plaster or tape and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
Of course, such extreme measures are not strong, but they can save a person's life before the arrival of doctors. If possible, blood-absorbing materials should be placed in front of airtight ones. Fabric will work for this.
The following treatment is already being carried out in the hospital:
- The chest is made airtight again and the disease is transferred to a closed form.
- Using an electric vacuum, the air bubble is sucked out of the pleura.
- Pressure returns to normal due to cavity drainage.
- Carrying out a puncture of the cavity with air.
Hemothorax
This condition is characterized by hemorrhage in the pleural cavity. Such a phenomenon can cause a serious threat to human life.
If the size of the hematoma is too large, then the injured lung begins to compress the he althy one. That is, an injury to even one lung will disableboth. A symptom of this injury is rapid but shallow breathing and sometimes loss of consciousness.
In extreme conditions with an open wound, the patient needs to put a blood-absorbing bandage and seal the wound. If the wound is closed, then a cold compress is perfect. It will narrow the blood vessels, and the amount of blood flowing out will be much less.
In hospital conditions, clotted blood in the cavity is drained and the lung is released.
Injury treatment
Pulmonary contusion (symptoms and consequences are considered by us) must be treated immediately. At home, this can be a cold compress.
If the injury is minor, then complete rest and pain medication will suffice. Pain and shortness of breath may be present for several days, after which they will pass.
With bruises of a stronger nature, anti-inflammatory treatment is prescribed. Antibiotics are often used to prevent pneumonia.
A bronchoscopy procedure is prescribed to suck out excess fluid from the lung cavity. A few days after the injury, physical therapy procedures are prescribed to speed up the healing process.
Please note that in the next few days after the injury, the damaged area should not be exposed to heat. It will only increase swelling and inflammation.
Prevention of complications
To avoid complications and strengthen the respiratory system, experts have developedcomplex of special respiratory gymnastics. It is necessary to perform such exercises when the treatment of the disease is nearing the end. Walking in the fresh air has a good effect. This is especially true for walks in a coniferous forest. Find an opportunity and go to such a place for a few days.
Consequences of lung injury
Whatever the degree of injury, it should not be ignored, as the consequences of the disease can be extremely dangerous. The most common complication of a normal lung injury is post-traumatic pneumonia. This disease is very dangerous and quite often leads to death.
To prevent this from happening, urgently go to the hospital and get diagnosed. Timely medical care will be the key to a future happy life. Most often, with proper medical care, any complications can be avoided.
