Chapter 27 Chest Injury

Front 1

cardiac tamponade

Back 1

Compression of the heart as the result of buildup of blood or other fluid in the pericardial sac, leading to decreased cardiac output

Front 2

closed chest injury

Back 2

An injury to the chest in which the skin is not broken, usually caused by blunt trauma

Front 3

commotio cordis

Back 3

A blunt chest injury caused by a sudden, direct blow to the chest that occurs only during the critical portion of a person's heartbeat

Front 4

flail chest

Back 4

A condition in which two or more ribs are fractured in two or more places or in association with a fracture of the sternum so that a segment of the chest wall is effectively detached from the rest of the thoracic cage

Front 5

flutter valve

Back 5

A one-way valve that allows air to leave the chest cavity but not return; formed by taping three sides of an occlusive dressing to the chest wall, leaving the fourth side open as a valve

Front 6

hemopneumothorax

Back 6

The accumulation of blood and air in the pleural space of the chest

Front 7

hemothorax

Back 7

A collection of blood in the pleural cavity

Front 8

myocardial contusion

Back 8

a bruise of the heart muscle

Front 9

occlusive dressing

Back 9

A dressing made of Vaseline-impregnated gauze, aluminum foil, or plastic that protects a wound from air and bacteria

Front 10

open chest injury

Back 10

An injury to the chest in which the chest wall itself is penetrated by a fractured rib or, more frequently, by an external object such as a bullet or knife

Front 11

open pneumothorax

Back 11

An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound; also referred to as a sucking chest wound

Front 12

paradoxical motion

Back 12

The motion of the portion of the chest wall that is detached in a flail chest; the motion—in during inhalation, out during exhalation—is exactly the opposite of normal chest wall motion during breathing

Front 13

pericardium

Back 13

The fibrous sac that surrounds the heart

Front 14

pneumothorax

Back 14

A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space

Front 15

pulmonary contusion

Back 15

Injury or bruising of lung tissue that results in hemorrhage

Front 16

simple pneumothorax

Back 16

Any pneumothorax that is free from significant physiologic changes and does not cause drastic changes in the vital signs of the patient

Front 17

spontaneous pneumothorax

Back 17

A pneumothorax that occurs when a weak area on the lung ruptures in the absence of major injury, allowing air to leak into the pleural space

Front 18

sucking chest wound

Back 18

An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound. See also open pneumothorax

Front 19

tachypnea

Back 19

Increased respiratory rate

Front 20

tension pneumothorax

Back 20

A life-threatening collection of air within the pleural space; the volume and pressure have both collasped the involved lung and caused a shift of the mediastinal structures to the opposite side

Front 21

traumatic asphyxia

Back 21

A pattern of injuries seen after a severe force is applied to the chest, forcing blood from the great vessels back into the head and neck