Chest Trauma, Pneumothorax, and Pulmonary Embolism Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core medical concepts, pathophysiology, diagnostic testing, and nursing considerations for chest trauma, pneumothorax, pleural drainage systems, and pulmonary embolism.

Blunt Chest Trauma

Chest injury resulting from shearing and compression forces where external signs may appear minor despite severe underlying internal organ damage.

Penetrating Chest Trauma

Chest injury occurring when a foreign object impales or passes through body tissues, creating an open wound.

Three-Sided Occlusive Dressing

A nonporous dressing secured on three sides over an open chest wound; during inspiration it pulls against the wound to prevent air entry, and during expiration it allows trapped air to escape.

Pneumothorax

A condition caused by air entering the pleural cavity, where positive pressure disrupts negative pressure and causes full or partial collapse of the lung.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

A type of pneumothorax caused by the rupture of small air-filled sacs (blebs) on the lung tissue, occurring in healthy individuals or those with underlying lung disease.

Iatrogenic Pneumothorax

A pneumothorax inadvertently caused by medical interventions or procedures, such as lung biopsies, subclavian catheter insertions, or mechanical ventilation.

Tension Pneumothorax

A life-threatening condition caused by air accumulation in the pleural space that cannot escape, leading to increased intrapleural pressure, mediastinal shift, tracheal deviation, and hemodynamic instability.

Chest Tube Placement Locations

Surgical insertion of tubes into the pleural space; typically placed higher in the second intercostal space to remove air, and lower to drain fluid or blood.

Collection Chamber

The first compartment of a chest drainage unit that receives and collects fluid, blood, or air drained from the pleural space while venting air into the second compartment.

Water-Seal Chamber

The second compartment of a pleural drainage unit filled with $2\,\text{cm}$ of water that functions as a one-way valve, allowing air to exit the pleural space without returning to the patient.

Suction Control Chamber

The third compartment of a pleural drainage unit that regulates the amount of negative pressure applied to the chest cavity using either a column of water or a dry regulator dial.

Tidaling

The normal rise and fall of water levels in the water-seal chamber corresponding to intrapleural pressure changes during respiration, which stops as the lung fully re-expands.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

The presence of air trapped in the subcutaneous tissue layers under the skin, often presenting as a crackling sensation upon palpation in chest trauma or pneumothorax.

Chest Tube Drainage Reporting Thresholds

A critical assessment finding where chest tube drainage exceeds $200\,\text{mL/hr}$ in the first hour or $100\,\text{mL/hr}$ in subsequent hours, requiring immediate provider notification.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

An obstruction of one or more pulmonary arteries caused by a thrombus, fat or air embolus, or tumor tissue that lodges in the pulmonary circulation and impairs alveolar perfusion.

Saddle Embolus

A large, life-threatening blood clot that lodges at the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery, blocking blood flow to both lungs.

Spiral CT Scan (CT Angiography)

The primary diagnostic test used for identifying pulmonary embolism, which utilizes intravenous contrast media to generate three-dimensional images of the pulmonary vasculature.

Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan

A diagnostic test for pulmonary embolism performed when IV contrast is contraindicated, consisting of a perfusion scan using injected radioisotopes and a ventilation scan using inhaled radioactive gas.

D-Dimer

A laboratory blood test measuring cross-linked fibrin degradation products that increases following clot breakdown, useful for ruling out deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary Infarction

A complication of pulmonary embolism involving occlusion of medium or large pulmonary vessels, leading to tissue necrosis, hemorrhage, and potential abscess formation.