Chest Injuries EMT Ch. 30 Vocab

Cardiac Tamponade

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

Closed chest injury

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

Commotio cordis

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.

Crepitus

A grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together.

Flail chest

A condition in which two or more adjacent 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

Flutter valve

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; may also be part of a commercial vented occlusive dressing.

Hemopneumothorax

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

Hemothorax

A collection of blood in the pleural cavity

Myocardial contusion

Bruising of the heart muscle

Occlusive dressing

An airtight dressing that protects a wound from air and bacteria; a commercial vented version allows air to passively escape from the chest, while an unvented dressing may be made of petrolatum gauze, aluminum foil, or plastic.

Open chest injury

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.

Open pneumothorax

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.

Paradoxical motion

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

Pericardium

The fibrous sac that surrounds the heart

Pulmonary contusion

injury or bruising of lung tissue that results in hemorrhage

Simple pneumothorax

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

Spontaneous pneumothorax

 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.

Sucking chest wound

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

Tachypnea

Rapid respirations

Tension pneumothorax

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity that progressively increases pressure in the chest that interferes with cardiac function with potentially fatal results.

Traumatic asphyxia

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.

Vented chest seal

An occlusive dressing designed to allow air to escape through the dressing but not be drawn back in.