A 50-year-old has blunt chest trauma after a fall. There is paradoxical movement of a segment of the right lateral chest wall, worsening hypoxia and

Question

A 50-year-old has blunt chest trauma after a fall. There is paradoxical movement of a segment of the right lateral chest wall, worsening hypoxia and painful breathing, with oxygen saturations of 89 percent.

Accepted Answer

Provide oxygen and analgesia, support ventilation and treat the underlying lung contusion.

Answer

Apply an occlusive dressing over the flail segment of chest wall.

Answer

Strap the flail segment firmly in order to splint the chest wall and reduce the paradoxical movement.

Answer

Defer analgesia in order to avoid masking any deterioration.

Answer

Encourage shallow breathing in order to reduce the pain.

Flail chest — DIPIMC MCQ

A 50-year-old has blunt chest trauma after a fall. There is paradoxical movement of a segment of the right lateral chest wall, worsening hypoxia and painful breathing, with oxygen saturations of 89 percent.