Lung contusion means damage (tearing) of the lung parenchyma, which is a life-threatening condition. Lung contusion is the most common lung injury in the course of a chest injury. It concerns 30-70 percent. patients sustaining blunt trauma to the chest. What are the causes and symptoms of a pulmonary contusion? What is the treatment?

Lung contusionmeans damage (tearing) of the lung parenchyma.Lung contusionis the most common lung injury in a thoracic injury and is also common in multi-site trauma. It concerns 30-70 percent. patients sustaining blunt trauma to the chest. Other chest injuries include rib fracture, sternum fracture, pneumothorax, pleural hemorrhage, diaphragm rupture, cardiac tamponade, rupture of the heart muscle and many others.

Contusion of the lungs - causes

How do lung contusions happen? When the active physical factor transfers its energy to the lungs, the parenchyma, airways, alveoli, and pulmonary alveoli are ruptured, followed by secondary injuries, when the tissues are no longer affected by the traumatic factor and take their original position. For this reason, contusion usually occurs in areas adjacent to dense structures, especially bone. The contusion of the lungs leads to a pool of blood and swelling within the alveoli. The resulting changes cause respiratory impairment.

Contusion of the lungs and other blunt injuries to the chest are most often the result of a mechanical trauma (e.g. as a result of a car accident).

Contusion of the lungs - symptoms

  • there are injuries in the form of bruises or skin abrasions on the chest integuments. Medical experience shows that severe bruising is possible without visible injuries of the coatings

Lung contusion develops insidiously within hours, and is often only noticeable by the presence of signs of a blunt trauma to the chest with bruises or rib fractures.

  • palpation shows pain in the projection of the ribs and sternum with their pathological mobility and disturbance of the mechanics of the chest (chest laxity appears)
  • As a result of filling the alveoli with blood, they also appearsymptoms such as:

- increasing dyspnoea- cyanosis- hemoptysis

However, these symptoms usually appear several hours after the injury, which may delay diagnosis and treatment.

  • rib fracture - often accompanies a contusion of the lung

Contusion of the lungs - diagnosis

The diagnosis of a pulmonary contusion is based on imaging tests and the parameters of the efficiency of the respiratory system. Computed tomography is recommended, but in Poland, chest X-rays are commonly performed to diagnose contusion.

Contusion of the lungs - treatment

There is no specific treatment for lung contusion, only symptomatic treatment. Oxygen therapy, painkillers, respiratory rehabilitation, and when it comes to respiratory failure - mechanical ventilation are used. The changes usually regress within 10-14 days, but in some cases complications may occur.

Important

Contusion of the lungs - complications

A complication of a pulmonary contusion may be ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), pneumonia, hematoma or traumatic cyst.

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