Essay On Pulmonary Contusion

Many intensive care unit (ICU) patients with multiple traumatic injuries are susceptible to pulmonary contusion. A pulmonary contusion is an injury to the lung which is a common result after a blunt chest trauma from incidents such as vehicular accidents and assaults or after penetrating chest trauma from explosions or shock waves (Ganie et al, 2013). Also, although it is more commonly associated with chest traumas such as pneumothorax, rib fractures or hemothorax, pulmonary contusion is also related to trauma to the abdomen and nervous system (Sutyak et al, 2007).
After a blunt force trauma occurs, lacerations develop in the lung parenchyma which leads to the accumulation of blood and fluid in the alveoli. This build-up usually develops over 24 hours and results in abnormalities in lung function such as perfusion, increased intrapulmonary shunt, decreased lung compliance, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, inability to eliminate carbon dioxide, and inadequate oxygen levels (Cohn & DuBose, 2010).
Pulmonary contusion manifests itself through clinical symptoms including respiratory distress, hypoxemia, and hypercarbia (Cohn & DuBose,
However, a chest x-ray is not able to accurately assess the size of the contusion as its true extent takes about 24-48 hours after injury to appear on plain film (Ganie et al, 2013). Because a chest x-ray is not sensitive enough to detect a pulmonary contusion immediately after an injury, a computed tomography (CT) scan can prove to be a valuable diagnostic tool. A CT scan can determine the volume and detect pulmonary contusions right after an injury occurs (Ganie et al, 2013). Pulmonary contusions can also be effectively diagnosed through the use of an ultrasound and considered to be better than a chest x-ray and a CT scan. Lastly, a histopathological assessment is also utilized as a diagnostic tool for pulmonary contusions (Ganie et al,