Pulmonology Book

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Open Pneumothorax

Aka: Open Pneumothorax, Sucking Chest Wound
  1. Pathophysiology
    1. Chest wall defect >2/3 tracheal diameter shunts air via chest defect instead of via trachea
    2. Results in a failure of respiratory dynamics and secondary Hypoxia and hypercarbia
  2. Symptoms
    1. History of Penetrating Trauma to chest
    2. See Pneumothorax
  3. Signs
    1. See Pneumothorax
    2. Large defect or Penetrating Trauma to chest wall
  4. Management
    1. Apply a sterile Occlusive Dressing to wound
      1. Tape dressing on 3 of the 4 sides (Valve effect)
      2. Offers only temporary stabilization until Chest Tube can be placed
      3. Chest Tube is the primary management for an open chest wound
      4. Do not completely occlude the wound until Chest Tube is in place (Tension Pneumothorax risk)
    2. Place Chest Tube remote from open wound
      1. Typical Chest Tube placement is over the 5th rib in the mid-axillary line
      2. Do not use the wound site for insertion of Chest Tube (contamination risk)
    3. Surgical Consultation
      1. Provides definitive chest wound closure
  5. References
    1. (2012) ATLS 9th ed, American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma, p. 96-9

Open pneumothorax (C0264555)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
SnomedCT 15206007
English open pneumothorax, Open pneumothorax, Open pneumothorax (disorder)
Spanish neumotórax abierto (trastorno), neumotórax abierto
Sources
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)


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