Chapter 29 Chest Injuries

Distended jugular veins, narrowing pulse pressure, and muffled heart tones are collectively known as _______.

Beck's triad

You are transporting a stable patient with a possible pneumothorax. The patient is receiving high-flow oxygen and has an oxygen saturation of 95%. During your reassessment, you find that the patient is now confused, hypotensive, and profusely diaphoretic. What is MOST likely causing this patient's deterioration?

Compression of the aorta and vena cava

A patient with a chest injury has a blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg and a pulse rate of 120 beats/min. Which of the following additional findings should make you suspect a pericardial tamponade?

Repeat BP of 90/68 mm Hg

A 19-year-old male is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless after being struck in the center of the chest with a softball. Based on the mechanism of injury, what MOST likely occurred?

Ventricular fibrillation when the impact occurred during a critical portion of the cardiac cycle

Pneumothorax is defined as:

accumulation of air in the pleural space.

Patients with rib fractures will commonly:

breathe rapidly and shallowly.

Signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothorax include all of the following, EXCEPT:

collapsed jugular veins

Paradoxical motion is a sign of a _______.

flail chest

Common signs and symptoms of a chest injury include all of the following, EXCEPT:

hematemesis

The pliability of the pediatric rib cage _______.

increases the risk of internal injury

The treatment for relieving a tension pneumothorax involves:

inserting a needle through the rib cage into the pleural space.

Hemoptysis indicates damage to the _______.

lungs

The esophagus, trachea, and great vessels reside in the _______.

mediastinum

If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his or her respiratory rate remains unchanged:

minute volume will decrease.

A rapid, irregular pulse following blunt trauma to the chest is MOST suggestive of a:

myocardial contusion.

Irritation or damage to the pleural surfaces that causes sharp chest pain during inhalation is called:

pleurisy.

Following blunt trauma to the chest, an 18-year-old female presents with respiratory distress, shallow breathing, and cyanosis. Her blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg and her pulse is 130 beats/min and thready. You should:

provide ventilation assistance with a BVM.

When assessing a patient with a hemothorax, you will MOST likely find:

signs and symptoms of shock

Immediate death from blunt chest trauma following a motor vehicle crash is MOST often the result of:

traumatic aortic rupture.

The body's ability to move air in and out of the lungs is called _______.

ventilation