Severe contusion of the lung: symptoms and treatment

Most often, the bruise of the lung is a consequence of a chest injury. Such damage is closed, and it can be obtained from impact, squeezing or shaking. At the most severe degrees of the disease, the vessels and bronchi can be damaged. Very often there are hemorrhages.

There are cases when the contusion of the lung causes the formation of cavities filled with air or blood. In this case, the sheath covering the lungs is not damaged at all.

Bruising of the lung: symptoms of

The very first sign on which patients focus attention is severe pain in the lung area. With a deep inspiration, this pain increases many times. Extremely unpleasant sensations can appear at inclinations and in any other position of a body.

If blood cough is seen, a lung injury can not be ruled out. Symptoms that are not so common are tachycardia and bluish skin.

If the injuries were severe, the injured person may have rapid breathing and shock. Very often the body lacks oxygen.

Hemorrhages, bruises and swelling are often seen on the outside of the chest.

A lung injury can not be determined immediately. Especially if the thorax and ribs are damaged. Therefore, the patient may not even understand the degree of damage.

Cases of pneumonia due to a trauma to the lung have been observed. It can be both focal and croupy.

Reasons for injuries

According to medical reports, a severe lung injury is a consequence of closed chest injuries. Such an injury can be obtained by falling from a very high altitude or by hitting the steering wheel of a car during a traffic accident. Explosions and stab wounds are not ruled out. Usually, along with the bruise of the lungs, the heart, ribs and the thorax itself also suffer.

Diagnosis

A lung injury can be diagnosed in several ways:

1) During surface inspection. This procedure consists of examining the chest. If it shows a hemorrhage, then the lungs can be injured.

2) Using ultrasound. If there is a damaged zone, then an echo-positive shadow will appear on the screen.

3) A severe lung contusion can be identified while listening to the organ. This can be done by simply leaning your ear or using a stethoscope.

4) Using an X-ray, a bruise can be determined due to polymorphic darkening of the lung in the injured area.

5) Examination of the lungs using a bronchoscope device. It is a hollow tube with a light source at the end. Thus, you can see the swelling of the bronchi or blood clots.

Emergency care

If the victim already at first sight is diagnosed with a lung injury, treatment should be given immediately. The first emergency help will ease pain, minimize the consequences and alleviate the symptoms.

To do this, apply a cold compress to the bruised area. For this purpose, you can use a frozen bottle or an ice pack. Apply such a compress periodically for several minutes.

Too long to keep the compress is not necessary. This can cause frostbite or colds.

Ensure that the victim is completely at rest. It is desirable to place it in a horizontal position and make sure that the patient moves as little as possible. The first time after injury is best to keep the injured person in a semi-sitting position. Before coming to the doctor, do not use any medications. This can only worsen the situation.

Pneumothorax

At the time of chest injury, the patient may experience two severe conditions. These include pneumothorax and hemothorax.

Bruising of the lung( symptoms and treatment are determined during the diagnosis) - this is a rather difficult injury, requiring urgent attention of a specialist.

Pneumothorax is the accumulation of air in the pleural area. Such a lesion most often occurs with fractures of the ribs, knife injuries in the chest or during injury to the chest. With a complex degree of disease, a wound occurs, in which a large amount of air enters. In this case, the damaged part of the lung becomes inoperable. The most difficult case is valve valve pneumothorax. The air enters, but can not come back. Thus, with each inhalation in the cavity, the pressure increases.

This condition can cause severe shock. Without an urgent operation, the victim may die.

If a person has an open wound in the chest, then first of all it is necessary to carry out the sealing with improvised means. You can use a bag, oilcloth or film. At the sides fix with bandages, plaster or tape and wait for the arrival of an ambulance.

Of course, such extreme measures are not potent, but they can save a person's life before the arrival of doctors. If there is a possibility, then before the airtight one needs to put materials absorbing blood. For this fabric is suitable.

Already under the conditions of the hospital, this treatment is performed:

- The chest is made again sealed and the disease is transferred to a closed form.

- The air bubble from the pleura is sucked off with an electric vacuum.

- The pressure comes back to normal thanks to the drainage of the cavity.

- Puncture the cavity with air.

Hemotorax

This condition is characterized by a hemorrhage in the pleural cavity. This phenomenon can cause a serious threat to life for a person.

If the size of the hematoma is too large, then the injured lung begins to squeeze a healthy one. That is, the injury of even one lung will put both out of action. Symptom of such trauma is frequent but shallow breathing and sometimes loss of consciousness.

In extreme conditions, with an open wound, the patient needs to put a blood-letting bandage and seal the wound. If the wound is closed, then a cold compress will work fine. It will narrow the blood vessels, and the amount of bleeding will be much less.

In hospital conditions, the coagulated blood in the cavity is drained and the lung is released.

Treatment of a contusion

A lung injury( the symptoms and consequences we are considering) should be treated immediately. At home, it can be a cold compress.

If the injury is insignificant, then there will be enough rest and anesthetics. 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. Very often, antibiotics are used to prevent pneumonia.

The procedure of bronchoscopy is prescribed for the suction of excess fluid from the lung cavity. A few days after the injury, physiotherapeutic procedures are appointed to speed up the recovery process.

Please note that in the next few days after getting injured you can not work on the damaged area with heat. It will only increase puffiness and inflammation.

Prevention of complications

To avoid complications and strengthen the respiratory system, specialists developed a complex of special respiratory gymnastics. Perform such exercises should be when the treatment of the disease is nearing the end. A good influence is having a walk in the fresh air. Especially it concerns walks in a coniferous forest. Find the opportunity and go to such a place for a few days.

Consequences of a lung injury

Whatever the extent of the injury, it can not be ignored, as the effects of the disease can be extremely dangerous. The most common complication of a normal lung injury is posttraumatic pneumonia. This disease is very dangerous and quite often leads to death.

To avoid this, immediately go to the hospital and go through the diagnosis. Timely rendered medical care will be the key to further happy life. Most often, with proper medical care, any complications can be avoided.