c. Complication--Cardiac Tamponade.
(1) Cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade, complication of cardiac
contusion, is a condition in which blood or other fluid which has leaked out of the heart
in the chest injury is caught in the pericardial sac. The fluid accumulates and
compresses the heart so that the chambers of the heart can't hold the blood normally
returned to it. This situation must be corrected immediately.
(2)
Signs/symptoms of cardiac tamponade.
(a) Thready, rapid pulse.
(b) Converging systolic/diastolic blood pressure. (Upper and lower
blood pressure readings come closer and closer together as successive readings are
taken.)
(c)
Distended neck veins.
(d) Muffled heart sounds.
(e)
Cool, pale, and clammy skin.
(f)
Death may result, due to inadequate cardiac output.
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HEMOTHORAX
Hemothorax is hemorrhaging within the thorax due to the rupture of blood
vessels in the chest. The chest is filled up with something other than the lungs. The
result is that the lungs cannot expand normally. The casualty is not able to inhale as
much air, and there may be less blood to carry this reduced amount of oxygen through
the casualty's body. A common cause of hemothorax is a penetrating object to the
chest.
a. Signs/Symptoms of Hemothorax. Signs and symptoms include the
following:
(1)
Respiratory difficulty such as dyspnea or gasping respiration.
(2)
Decreased, absent, or hyporesonance (dull) respiratory sound.
MD0569
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