A few notables on this chest X-ray. First, the patient is intubated and this can be seen by the linear marks on the tube (which could be advanced a couple of centimeters). But this patient has bigger problems, this patient has a ruptured diaphragm on the anatomical left (right as you look at the film), and her guts are in her chest. This happens when the human body goes from a cool 65mph to zero in about three feet and in about half a second. This patient did surprisingly well after surgery.
Did the seat belt or steering wheel rupture it?
ReplyDeletehow badass.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you doctors can see that in the x-ray. I think I might be able to kind of make out what you are describing - but if you hadn't said what was wrong I would never have know what I was looking at.
ReplyDeleteI just think it is absolutely amazing what kind of trauma the human body can sustain - and with the right kind of care - survive.
Was the lady wearing a safety belt at time of impact?
ReplyDeleteTraumatic Diaphragmatic Hernias suck, but not as much as that Transected Aorta...Ha! made you look!
ReplyDeletegood question about the safety belt... don't know, this case was from a half a year back or so.
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. Feel free to let the gang at M.D.O.D. do any beta testing for you.
My dad had a ruptured diaphram that was caused by a really BIG sneeeze. It happened while he was in the hospital (outpatient) for routine test. His only complaint was that he had a hard time breathing. I have never seen so many thoracic surgeons at one time. You'd think we were giving away free malpractice ins. They all commented that there was no record of a sneeze causing so much damage. I'm sure someone penned a "paper"
ReplyDeletehow old was the patient?
ReplyDeleteTwenties I believe.
ReplyDelete