Asphyxia is a condition that carries an extreme danger to human life, accompanied by a violation of gas exchange, as well as the appearance of hypoxia. As a result: impaired breathing and problems with the circulatory process.
Types of asphyxia
According to the degree of suffocation, asphyxia is classified into acute and subacute. Also in medicine, this syndrome is divided (depending on the mechanism of occurrence) into the following types:
- Traumatic asphyxia - suffocation that occurs as a result of damage to organs inside the chest due to compression.
- Toxic asphyxia. It develops due to depression of the respiratory center. It can also be the result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
- Mechanical asphyxia. It develops with mechanical action: the cessation of air flow into the respiratory tract. It could be compression or narrowing.
Traumatic asphyxia
It is also called superior vena cava syndrome or chest compression. This type of asphyxia takes place when there is strong pressure on the chest or the upper part is pressed down.belly. Most often, doctors fix traumatic asphyxia during strong crowds (when people push and crush each other in a crowd), during earthquakes (when a heavy closet in an apartment falls on a person or a tree collapses on him). Often, experts also encounter miners who have fallen under a collapse, resulting in chest compression.
The syndrome of traumatic asphyxia is called the syndrome of the superior vena cava because it increases the pressure and microbleeds can occur in the skin, as well as in all internal organs and even in the brain.
First symptoms
The very first symptoms that will help diagnose traumatic asphyxia include:
- Point-sized hemorrhages in the skin. Especially in those places where the clothes fit closely to the body.
- You can also notice the difference between the upper and lower body. The neck and head look normal, but the lower parts are paler.
- Also, a person can breathe rapidly and poorly navigate in space.
- In exceptional, severe cases, loss of consciousness is possible.
First Aid
Every person who knows its basics can provide first aid for traumatic asphyxia. First you need to help the victim remove clothing that hinders movement. Then you need to move the person to fresh air. If he is indoors, you need to open all windows and doors. Good air ventilation is one of the main factors determining the speed of recovery of the patient.
In the mildest cases, it will be enough to apply an ice bag to the forehead. If the patient is in an excited state, it is necessary to give him an injection with a sedative. In cases of moderate severity, the patient should be placed in a slightly elevated position and full access to fresh air should be opened to him. In the most difficult situations, when a person is unconscious, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration with the help of AMBU). You also need to inject a solution of 40% glucose intravenously and lasix to prevent swelling of the brain.
In a severe case, the patient should be hospitalized in the intensive care unit. In milder situations - in traumatology or thoracic department. In this case, a person must be transported in a supine position with a raised head. A mild degree of asphyxia does not require hospitalization - it is enough to be under medical supervision for one hour. Then the patient is discharged for outpatient treatment, but only if there are no disorders in the respiratory system.
Asphyxia in newborns
Alas, but this syndrome can attack not only adults, but only small children born into the world. Forms of traumatic asphyxia in children:
- Severe degree of suffocation. The child has pale skin, palpitations. Breathing at this time is very difficult or completely absent.
- The average degree of suffocation is characterized by lethargy anddecreased reflexes. The skin of the child changes from pink to cyanotic. Breathing becomes more frequent, there may be a short interruption - apnea.
- Mild degree of asphyxia is when a newborn has abnormalities in the work of the respiratory organs and the reaction to stimuli is weakened.
Traumatic asphyxia, like its other types, is assessed in newborns using the Apgar scale.
Preventive measures
As a prophylaxis of asphyxia, situations in which suffocation may occur should be avoided, prevented and prevented in every possible way. For example, it is necessary to treat dangerous diseases prematurely, to prevent any injury to the sternum. You also need to protect yourself as much as possible from toxic substances and poisons. After asphyxia, doctors strongly recommend that you be under the close supervision and supervision of qualified specialists.
