II. Pathophysiology
III. Symptoms
- History of Penetrating Trauma to chest
- See Pneumothorax
IV. Signs
- See Pneumothorax
- Large defect or Penetrating Trauma to chest wall
V. Management
- Apply a sterile Occlusive Dressing to wound
- Tape dressing on 3 of the 4 sides (Valve effect)
- Offers only temporary stabilization until Chest Tube can be placed
- Chest Tube is the primary management for an open chest wound
- Do not completely occlude the wound until Chest Tube is in place (Tension Pneumothorax risk)
- Place Chest Tube remote from open wound
- Typical Chest Tube placement is over the 5th rib in the mid-axillary line
- Do not use the wound site for insertion of Chest Tube (contamination risk)
- Surgical Consultation
- Provides definitive chest wound closure
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Related Studies
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| SnomedCT | 15206007 |
| English | open pneumothorax, Open pneumothorax, Open pneumothorax (disorder) |
| Spanish | neumotórax abierto (trastorno), neumotórax abierto |
