Most often, a lung injury is a consequence of a chest injury. Such damage is covered, and it can be obtained from shock, squeezing or shaking. With the most severe degrees of the disease, vessels and bronchi can be damaged. Very often hemorrhages appear.
There are times when a bruise of the lung causes the formation of cavities filled with air or blood. At the same time, the membrane itself covering the lungs is not damaged at all.
Lung injury: symptoms
The very first sign that patients focus on is severe pain in the lung area. With a deep breath, this pain intensifies many times. Extremely unpleasant sensations can appear with bends and in any other position of the body.
If blood expectoration is observed, then a lung injury is not excluded. Symptoms that are not so common are tachycardia and blue skin.
If the damage was serious, then the injured person may have rapid breathing and shock. Very often the body lacks oxygen.
On the outside of the chest, hemorrhages, bruises and swelling are often noticeable.
Bruising of the lung may not be immediately apparent. Especially if the chest and ribs are damaged. Therefore, the patient may not even understand the degree of damage.
Cases of pneumonia due to lung injury have been reported. It can be both focal and croupous.
Causes of Injury
According to medical information, severe bruising of the lungs is the result of closed chest injuries. Such an injury can be obtained by falling from a very high height or by hitting the steering wheel of a car during a traffic accident. Explosions and stab wounds are not excluded. Usually, along with a bruise of the lungs, the heart, ribs and the chest itself also suffer.
Diagnostics
Lung injury can be diagnosed in several ways:
1) During a surface inspection. This procedure involves examining the chest. If hemorrhage is noticed on it, then the lungs may be injured.
2) Using ultrasound. If there is a damaged zone, an echo-positive shadow will be displayed on the screen.
3) A severe bruise of the lung can be detected while listening to the organ. This can be done simply by leaning your ear or using a stethoscope.
4) Using x-rays, bruising can be determined due to polymorphic darkening of the lung in the injured area.
5) Examination of the lungs using a bronchoscope device. This is a hollow tube with a light source at the end. Thus, bronchial edema or blood congestion can be seen.
Urgent Care
If the patient is already diagnosed with a bruised lung at the first glance, treatment should be given immediately. First aid will help relieve pain, minimize effects and alleviate symptoms.
To do this, apply a cold compress to the bruised area. For this purpose, you can use a frozen bottle or ice pack. Apply this compress periodically for several minutes.
Too long to hold a compress is not necessary. This can cause frostbite or colds.
Provide complete rest to the victim. It is advisable to place it in a horizontal position and make sure that the patient moves as little as possible. The first time after an injury is best to keep the injured person in a semi-sitting position. Before the arrival of the doctor, you should not use any medications. It can only make things worse.
Pneumothorax
During a chest injury, a patient may experience two serious conditions. These include pneumothorax and hemothorax.
Bruising of the lung (symptoms and treatment are determined during the diagnosis) is a rather difficult injury, requiring urgent attention of a specialist.
Pneumothorax is the accumulation of air in the pleural region. Such a lesion most often occurs with fractures of the ribs, stab wounds in the chest or during trauma to the chest. With a complex degree of the disease, a wound occurs in which a large amount of air enters. In this case, the damaged part of the lung becomes inoperative. The most difficult case is valve pneumothorax. Air enters, but cannot exit. Thus, with each breath in the cavity, the pressure increases.
This condition can cause severe shock. Without urgent surgery, the victim may die.
If a person has an open wound in his chest, then first of all it is necessary to carry out the sealing with improvised means. You can use a bag, oilcloth or film. Fix on each side with bandages, a band-aid or tape and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
Of course, such extreme measures are not powerful, but they can save a person’s life before the doctors arrive. If possible, then blood-absorbing materials must be placed in front of the airtight ones. For this, fabric is suitable.
Already in the hospital, such treatment is carried out:
- The chest is again sealed and the disease is converted into a closed form.
- Using an electric vacuum, an air bubble is sucked out of the pleura.
- The pressure returns to normal due to drainage of the cavity.
- Carrying out a puncture of a cavity with air.
Hemothorax
This condition is characterized by hemorrhage in the pleural cavity. This phenomenon can cause a serious threat to human life.
If the size of the hematoma is too large, then the injured lung begins to squeeze the healthy. That is, an injury to even one lung will disable both. Symptom of such an injury is frequent, but shallow breathing and sometimes loss of consciousness.
In extreme conditions with an open wound, the patient needs to put a blood-absorbing dressing and seal the wound. If the wound is closed, then a cold compress is perfect. It will narrow the vessels, and the amount of spilled blood will be much less.
In hospital conditions, coagulated blood in the cavity is drained and the lung is released.
Bruise treatment
Bruising of the lung (symptoms and consequences we are considering) should be treated immediately. At home, it can be a cold compress.
If the injury is minor, then complete rest and painkillers will suffice. Pain and shortness of breath may be present for several days, after which they will pass.
With bruises of a stronger nature, anti-inflammatory treatment is prescribed. Very often, antibiotics are used to prevent pneumonia.
The bronchoscopy procedure is prescribed to suck out excess fluid from the lung cavity. A few days after the injury, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed to accelerate the healing process.
Please note that in the next few days after injury, you must not expose the damaged area to heat. It will only increase swelling and inflammation.
Complication prevention
To avoid complications and strengthen the respiratory system, specialists developed a complex of special breathing exercises. Such exercises should be performed when the treatment of the disease is nearing the end. Walking in the fresh air has a good effect. This is especially true for walks in the coniferous forest. Find an opportunity and go to such a place for a few days.
The consequences of a lung injury
Whatever the degree of injury, it cannot be ignored, since the consequences of the disease can be extremely dangerous. The most common complication of a common lung injury is post-traumatic pneumonia. This disease is very dangerous and quite often leads to death.
To avoid this, urgently go to the hospital and go through the diagnosis. Timely medical assistance provided will be the key to a further happy life. Most often, with proper medical care, any complications can be avoided.