Traumas located in the chest area can damage capillaries that supplement the lungs. Pulmonary tissue injuries and bruises that develop in this way lead to lung contusion. So how does lung contusion manifest itself, and what are the treatment methods?
What is Pulmonary Contusion?
Lung contusion is a problem involving external trauma to the rib cage. In this condition, pulmonary capillaries are damaged, and the blood flowing from the vein fills the alveoli in the lungs. As a result, blood accumulates in the lung parenchyma.
Pulmonary contusion may develop due to thoracic trauma. In a severe blow to the thorax, the contusion development rate is around 25-35%. Some pulmonary penetrating injuries, such as acute respiratory failure, may also be accompanied by lung contusion.
What Causes Lung Contusion?
The most common cause of lung contusion is severe blows to the thorax. As a result of collisions, adverse events such as rupture of the vessels, blood filling into the alveoli, and edema develop. The development of edema occurs within the first 72 hours after trauma.
In the first 24 hours, there is a predisposition to various problems such as respiratory failure, lung collapse, and low oxygen in the blood Low oxygen is called hypoxia. If not detected early, it can lead to fatal cases up to cardiac arrest.
Lung contusion occurs in 25% of patients hospitalized with chest trauma. Most of these cases are due to motor vehicle accidents. It is known that using airbags and wearing seat belts reduce the incidence of accidental contusion from 22% to 20%.
Other causes of a pulmonary contusion are sports accidents and injuries. Incomplete bone development in children and moderate-heavy blows to the area during this process may also cause a contusion. In addition, the fact that the site is generally more sensitive in children can lead to severe injuries accompanied by bone fractures. Sound pressure in gunshot wounds can lead to capillary bursts and associated lung contusion.
What are the Symptoms of Lung Contusion?
In contusion, the symptoms may not be noticed at the time of the event and may seem insignificant at first. However, in the first 24 hours following the event, various symptoms, especially shortness of breath, may develop.
Among these symptoms, There are severe symptoms such as respiratory failure, increasing stinging and pain in the chest area, dizziness, heart compression, respiratory arrest, and heart attack. The leading cause of a heart attack is the imbalance between blood and gas in the lungs, resulting in a lack of oxygen in the body. Fractures accompany most cases of contusion.
In cases where chest bruises accompany contusion, the oxygen level in the blood drops significantly in the first 72 hours. As a result, blood circulation does not continue as it should, and symptoms such as headache, change in skin color, and a stinging feeling when breathing occurs. Sores on the lung surface affect the severity and pattern of symptoms. The most common symptoms are:
- Pain and stinging sensation in the thorax
- The feeling of fullness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
How is Lung Contusion Treated?
The first signs of lung contusion become evident, and severity increases over time. In contusion cases that can result in death, it is essential to apply to the hospital without losing time to prevent life risks.
For this reason, even people who do not have apparent symptoms should go to the hospital for control purposes. In addition to radiographic imaging tests, tests measuring blood-gas balance may be required to detect lung contusion.
Tests and the first 24 to 72 hours of follow-up help determine the patient's condition over time. In addition, compatibility between CT scan tests and other tests is evaluated.
In treating lung contusion, prevention of symptoms is the primary goal. Positive pressure oxidation is administered to prevent lung collapse (atelectasis), one of the main symptoms. In addition, basic respiratory procedures are performed in patients with respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation is applied to prevent edema formation.
The first week after trauma is significant for treatment. At the end of this period, the probability of death is considerably reduced with the necessary treatments. In these cases, the first 72 hours are vital.
Even in cases that show no symptoms and do not seem urgent, there is a risk of death. Therefore, the patient should immediately consult a specialist physician after the trauma and start the necessary treatments.