A sucking wound is often the result of a penetrating injury. The most classical sign of a sucking chest wound is the presence of a hissing or a sucking sound during respiration. Other signs that may be noted are increased difficulties in breathing and coughing up of blood.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As is the case for any emergency, always ensure your own safety first. Before attending to the injured, wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Inspect the wound and look for any loose clothing or loosely hanging objects. Remove these carefully. Objects that appear to be stuck onto the area should not be extracted by force. Doing so is likely to worsen the injury and reduce the chances of survival.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
One of the most dreaded complications of this condition is what is known as tension pneumothorax. This complication tends to follow lung lacerations. Air escapes from the lungs and is trapped within the chest cavity. It increases progressively to the extent of interfering with the circulatory system and leading to death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
Once the patient arrives to the hospital, there are a number of interventions that will be undertaken. Because of the strain in breathing, they will be receive oxygen supplementation through a facial mask. The next important thing is to provide an escape route for the trapped air to escape. This is done by fixing an under water seal drain tube through the ribs into the pleural and leaving it in place for some hours or a few days.
If you give the right stabilization measures and the patient makes it to hospital for there operation, there is a very high likelihood of survival. The most important thing to remember is that time is of great essence and a second lost may make the difference between survival and death. On average, one will be retained in the hospital for a period of seven to ten days. Resumption of regular routine takes between three and six months.
If you suspect that someone has suffered this kind of injury, ensure you call the emergency response team immediately. Call for help from anyone else that may be nearby. There emergency phone operator will often guide through on what to do. If they do not, then you will need to do a number of things as you wait.
As is the case for any emergency, always ensure your own safety first. Before attending to the injured, wash your hands and put on a pair of gloves. Inspect the wound and look for any loose clothing or loosely hanging objects. Remove these carefully. Objects that appear to be stuck onto the area should not be extracted by force. Doing so is likely to worsen the injury and reduce the chances of survival.
Every attempt should be made to seal the openings that are provide a route for entry of air. In case of gunshot injuries, both the entry and exit wounds should be closed. This can be effectively achieved by use of adhesive tape. If such is unavailable any material that can create an air right seal can be used. The palm of the hand can be engaged as a last resort.
One of the most dreaded complications of this condition is what is known as tension pneumothorax. This complication tends to follow lung lacerations. Air escapes from the lungs and is trapped within the chest cavity. It increases progressively to the extent of interfering with the circulatory system and leading to death.
Once the seals have been created, you need to be wary of tension pneumothorax. Some of the signs that suggest this complication is setting include crackling sounds palpated under the skin, shallow rapid breaths, a blue coloration of fingers and engorged neck veins. If these are noted, the seal should be opened immediately. In case the patient stops breathing before the emergency team arrives then you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
Once the patient arrives to the hospital, there are a number of interventions that will be undertaken. Because of the strain in breathing, they will be receive oxygen supplementation through a facial mask. The next important thing is to provide an escape route for the trapped air to escape. This is done by fixing an under water seal drain tube through the ribs into the pleural and leaving it in place for some hours or a few days.
If you give the right stabilization measures and the patient makes it to hospital for there operation, there is a very high likelihood of survival. The most important thing to remember is that time is of great essence and a second lost may make the difference between survival and death. On average, one will be retained in the hospital for a period of seven to ten days. Resumption of regular routine takes between three and six months.
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