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HYPOXIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE AFTER MASSIVE EXTRATHORACIC TRAUMA WITH A CASE REPORT
Author(s) -
Hunt P. S.,
Elliott B. G.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1972.tb46973.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , respiratory failure , oxygenation , hypoxia (environmental) , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , ventilation (architecture) , mechanical ventilation , mechanical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , oxygen , engineering
A case is described of massive extrathoracic trauma with the early onset of respiratory failure characterized by hypoxia and stiff lungs. The hypoxia was associated with delirium. The immediate priority in management in this case was to maintain adequate alveolar ventilation and oxygenation. The basis of care in these cases is accurate volume replacement including infusion of colloid, with the aid of central venous pressure monitoring together with endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy and intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Great care must be taken to prevent sepsis in these patients, for this worsens respiratory function. It is suggested that disseminated microvascular coagulation is a factor in the massively injured, and heparinization must be considered when adequate oxygenation of the patient is difficult.