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.
When faced with this emergency, contact emergency services immediately. In some cases, the emergency services phone operator may offer you some guidance but in cases where such services are unavailable, there are a number of things that one can do to improve the chances of survival of the victim.
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.
The complications resulting from this form of injury vary depending on the exact site injured. Deep injuries are likely to have the lungs involved and may lead to a potentially fatal complication known as tension pneumothorax. In this condition, air leaks from the lungs and builds up within the chest causing excess pressure on other organs such as the heart and major blood vessels.
Look out for an increasing level of respiratory distress. This is often manifested by rapid shallow breaths. There may be associated enforcement of neck pains and crackles under the skin. All these are highly suggestive of tension pneumothorax and mean that the seal should be opened so as to relieve the pressure. If the patient ceases to breath and their stops beating, there is a need to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation as you wait on the emergency response team.
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.
When faced with this emergency, contact emergency services immediately. In some cases, the emergency services phone operator may offer you some guidance but in cases where such services are unavailable, there are a number of things that one can do to improve the chances of survival of the victim.
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.
The complications resulting from this form of injury vary depending on the exact site injured. Deep injuries are likely to have the lungs involved and may lead to a potentially fatal complication known as tension pneumothorax. In this condition, air leaks from the lungs and builds up within the chest causing excess pressure on other organs such as the heart and major blood vessels.
Look out for an increasing level of respiratory distress. This is often manifested by rapid shallow breaths. There may be associated enforcement of neck pains and crackles under the skin. All these are highly suggestive of tension pneumothorax and mean that the seal should be opened so as to relieve the pressure. If the patient ceases to breath and their stops beating, there is a need to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation as you wait on the emergency response team.
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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