A Case of Tension Viscerothorax: A Rare Complication of Diaphragmatic Rupture after Blunt Abdominal Trauma
Journal of the Korean Society of Traumatology
;
: 201-205, 2006.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-97790
ABSTRACT
Tension viscerothorax (gastrothorax) is rare life-threatening disease which is caused by air trapped in viscera. A distended viscera in the hemi-thorax shifts the mediastinal structures and causes extra-cardiac obstructive shock. A defective diaphragm is caused by abdominal trauma or a congenital anomaly. Traumatic diaphragmatic injury can be missed until herniation develops several years after blunt trauma. In our case, a 10-year old boy developed hemodynamic compromise in the emergency department. Three years earlier, he had suffered blunt abdominal trauma during a pedestrian traffic accident, but there was no evidence of diaphragmatic injury at that time. He was successfully resuscitated by gastric decompression and an emergent thoracic operation. The operation finding revealed a traumatic diaphragmatic injury. Tension viscerothorax is a rare, but catastrophic, condition, so we suggest that addition of tension viscerothorax to the Advanced Trauma and Life Support (ATLS) guidelines may be helpful.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Rupture
/
Shock
/
Wounds, Nonpenetrating
/
Viscera
/
Diaphragm
/
Accidents, Traffic
/
Decompression
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
/
Hemodynamics
/
Abdominal Injuries
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Journal of the Korean Society of Traumatology
Year:
2006
Type:
Article
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