List Archives

Sun Aug 12 17:33:47 BST 2007

In a message dated 8/12/2007 5:38:26 PM W. Europe Daylight Time, 
KMATTOX at aol.com writes:

In a message dated 8/12/2007 10:29:55 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
aneurysm_42 at yahoo.com writes:

Unless  the chest xray was provacative for a left
hemothorax, I would not place a  second chest tube
unless I was really concerned that there should  have
been more output 

SAL, Please share the chest X-ray if possible.    THis would  cause us all to 
make more speculations

k

I will transmit the initial chest xray when i return to the hospital in the 
morning. 
As best I can recall and describe 

1. There was a left thoracostomy tube in good position, there was not very 
much residual hemothorax
2. There was bilateral air space opacification consistent with aspiration
3. There was a widened mediastinum with no obvious focal hematoma
4. There was no apical hematoma
5. The nasogastric tube was interpreted to be deviated to the right. I didnt 
agree with that
6. an unfragmented bullet was seen in the right supraclavicular area , i 
believe laterally.

Ben asks some good questions

the man had pulses in both hands, 
blood pressures were not measured in both arms
he had no bruit

The lip injury was to the  upper lip with a tooth missing. At this point the 
surgeon was unclear whether this represented a penetration of the lip 
extending into the neck or brain or something as simple as a laceration from a fall. 

I look forward to more discussions. I will share that radiograph tomorrow.

sal

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

UPPER MEDIASTINUM Trans thoracic INJURY clarifications for BEN