the hollow area in the middle of the thoracic cavity between left and right lung
mediastinum
sunken chest wound should be taped on
3 sides
closed chest injury
results when 2 or more adjacent ribs are each fractured in two or more places, creating a segment of the rib cage that is not attached to the rib cage, interferes with chest expansion and changes intrathoracic pressure
flail chest
caused by air leaking into the chest cavity from damaged lung with no opening through the outer chest wall cannot be managed
tension pneumothorax
flail segment moves in a direction opposite to the movement of the rest of the chest wall
paradoxical movement
bleeding within the lung tissue, is often serious consequence of flail segment, bleeding occurs in and around the alveoli and into the interstitial space that separates the alveoli and capillaries
pulmonary contusion
the thoracic cavity is filled with blood rather than air, S&S occur respiratory distress develope late
hemothorax
bleeding into the fibrous sac around the heart from blunt or penetrating trauma, compression of the ventricles results in inadequate ventricular filling and reduced cardiac output
pericardial tamponade
occurs when heart is violently compressed between strnum and spiinal column
cardiac contusion