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Can A Collapsed Lung Heal On Its Own?
Question: i have two holes in my chest that blow bloody bubbles when i breathe and have 3 broken ribs on the left side. i also have 4 gashes on the same side. the holes in the left side of my chest make a sucking sound when i breathe. i cant breathe deep. i called the emts and they are on their way. i keep bleeding from the holes in the left side of my chest. i was shot twice. i cant breathe. what will the emts and doctors do to stop this? and what is this condition called? what can i do for self care at home?
Brief Answer:
Pneumothorax
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.
I am sorry to hear that you were shot. Take some towels and apply pressure on the gun shot wounds.Nothing else. Also try to stay calm. I know it is heard to do that,but you need to have a low heart rate. Also try to have deep breathing.
The situation that you describe,is called pneumothorax (air in the chest caviti) and probably even blood in your lungs (hemothorax). Through the 2 holes that you have,the lungs and chest cavity is communicating with your skin and the bubbles that you describe is air mixed with blood.
The EMT will secure first your air routes,than monitor your heart and start with fluids and other types of medicine depending from your condition.Also they will apply some pain relievers, oxygen...ect. Depending from the blood loss they might even transfuse 1 or 2 unites of blood. Don't worry, the EMT will do the best to save you.
Wishing you all the best.
Dr.Endri Katro
Pneumothorax
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.
I am sorry to hear that you were shot. Take some towels and apply pressure on the gun shot wounds.Nothing else. Also try to stay calm. I know it is heard to do that,but you need to have a low heart rate. Also try to have deep breathing.
The situation that you describe,is called pneumothorax (air in the chest caviti) and probably even blood in your lungs (hemothorax). Through the 2 holes that you have,the lungs and chest cavity is communicating with your skin and the bubbles that you describe is air mixed with blood.
The EMT will secure first your air routes,than monitor your heart and start with fluids and other types of medicine depending from your condition.Also they will apply some pain relievers, oxygen...ect. Depending from the blood loss they might even transfuse 1 or 2 unites of blood. Don't worry, the EMT will do the best to save you.
Wishing you all the best.
Dr.Endri Katro
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
The emts found two more holes in my chest one near my left nipple and one near the shoulder. I can't breathe. They also said I need to have the holes covered with "bolin chest seals" and the holes are "sucking chest wounds" what do these terms mean? The holes keep blowing out bloody bubbles. What can I do for first aid? How do I plug the holes?
Brief Answer:
Follow up...
Detailed Answer:
The bolin chest seals (BCS) is a sterile occlusive chest wound dressing for treating open pneumothorax and preventing tension pneumothorax that result from gunshots, stab wounds, or other penetrating chest trauma. For every person,to be able to breathe,air needs to pass through lungs only. In the case of a trauma,or gunshot than air passed through the skin since the pressure in the chest is negative. In this case,our muscles moves,but we can't breathe because there is not enough air in the lungs.
Apply pressure with towels to block the holes and if there is someone else near you he can help you also to stop air from entering the holes.
Follow up...
Detailed Answer:
The bolin chest seals (BCS) is a sterile occlusive chest wound dressing for treating open pneumothorax and preventing tension pneumothorax that result from gunshots, stab wounds, or other penetrating chest trauma. For every person,to be able to breathe,air needs to pass through lungs only. In the case of a trauma,or gunshot than air passed through the skin since the pressure in the chest is negative. In this case,our muscles moves,but we can't breathe because there is not enough air in the lungs.
Apply pressure with towels to block the holes and if there is someone else near you he can help you also to stop air from entering the holes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
How do i stop the air from entering the holes in my chest? I cant breathe. The emts ask me to breathe but i cant. They cut off my shirt completely why did they do this? The emts said these are "sucking chest wounds" what is a "sucking chest wound" and why do the holes blow bloody bubbles out?
Brief Answer:
Air passes through the way least resisant
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The sucking chest wound is called when the wound is 66% or more of the width of the trachea (trachea is an anatomical part that connects our nose and mouth with the lungs).
In the sucking chest wound, air is sucked into the thoracic cavity through the chest wall instead of into the lungs through the airways. This occurs because air follows the path of least resistance. so more air is passing through the holes than from trachea.
You need to try to breath slowly, probably even use your abdominal muscles. Stay propped up. This way more pressure will be build in your chest. So the amount of air passing through your lungs will be enough to keep you alive and to not do any damage at your body.
During an emergency, the holes, can be blocked with everything that can be found near by but since the EMTs are already there, let them do it with the equipment's that they're carrying.
My Best Wishes
Get Well Soon
Air passes through the way least resisant
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The sucking chest wound is called when the wound is 66% or more of the width of the trachea (trachea is an anatomical part that connects our nose and mouth with the lungs).
In the sucking chest wound, air is sucked into the thoracic cavity through the chest wall instead of into the lungs through the airways. This occurs because air follows the path of least resistance. so more air is passing through the holes than from trachea.
You need to try to breath slowly, probably even use your abdominal muscles. Stay propped up. This way more pressure will be build in your chest. So the amount of air passing through your lungs will be enough to keep you alive and to not do any damage at your body.
During an emergency, the holes, can be blocked with everything that can be found near by but since the EMTs are already there, let them do it with the equipment's that they're carrying.
My Best Wishes
Get Well Soon
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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