Penetrating Chest Wounds - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A penetrating chest wound may cause varying degrees of damage to bones, soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. The risk of death and disease from a chest wound depends on the size and severity of the wound. Gunshot wounds are usually more serious than stab wounds because they cause more severe lacerations and rapid blood loss and because ricochet commonly damages large areas and multiple organs. Signs and symptoms include dyspnea, chest pain, and significantly decreased breath sounds on the injured side. Decreased chest expansion and dullness to percussion are other classic signs. In a penetrating chest wound, treatment involves maintaining a patent airway and providing ventilatory support as needed.

Causes of Penetrating Chest Wounds

The common causes and risk factor's of Penetrating Chest Wounds:

• Acute infections.
• Chronic infections, such as tuberculosis.
• A penetrating chest wound.

Symptoms of Penetrating Chest Wounds

Some sign and symptoms related to Penetrating Chest Wounds are as follows:

• Free air under the skin.
• Pain.
• Increased breathing effort and depth or small rapid breaths.
• Pale or blue tinged gums.
• Swelling at the site of the injury.

Treatment of Penetrating Chest Wounds

• In a penetrating chest wound, treatment involves maintaining a patent airway and providing ventilatory support as needed.
• The patient's wound needs surgical repair.
• The patient also may need analgesics, antibiotics, tetanus prophylaxis, and infusion of blood products and I.V. fluids.