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| ==Medical Therapy== | | ==Medical Therapy== |
| ===Chest wound===
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| Penetrating wounds require immediate coverage with an occlusive dressing, field dressing, or pressure bandage made air-tight with petroleum jelly or clean plastic sheeting. The sterile inside of plastic bandage packaging is good for this purpose; however any airtight material, even the cellophane of a cigarette pack, can be used. A small opening, known as a flutter valve, needs to be left open, so the air can escape while the lung reinflates.
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| Any patient with a penetrating chest wound must be closely watched at all times and may develop a tension pneumothorax or other immediately life-threatening respiratory emergency at any moment. They cannot be left alone.
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| ===Blast injury or tension===
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| If the air in the pleural cavity is due to a tear in the lung tissue (in the case of a blast injury or [[tension pneumothorax]]), it needs to be released. A thin needle can be used for this purpose, to relieve the pressure and allow the lung to reinflate.
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| ===Pre-hospital care===
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| Many [[paramedic]]s can perform needle [[thoracentesis|thoracocentesis]] to relieve intrathoracic pressure. [[Intubation]] may be required, even of a conscious patient, if the situation deteriorates. Advanced medical care and immediate [[patient evacuation|evacuation]] are strongly indicated.
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| An untreated pneumothorax is an absolute contraindication of evacuation or transportation by flight.
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| ===Clinical Treatment===
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| '''Small pneumothoraces''' often are managed with no treatment other than repeat observation via Chest [[X-rays]], but most patients admitted will have oxygen administered since this has been shown to speed resolution of the pneumothorax.
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
| {{Reflist|2}} | | {{Reflist|2}} |
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| [[Category:Pulmonology]] | | [[Category:Pulmonology]] |