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Review
. 2013 Jan;1(1):7-16.

Lung Contusion: A Clinico-Pathological Entity with Unpredictable Clinical Course

Farooq Ahmad Ganie  1 , Hafeezulla Lone  1 , Ghulam Nabi Lone  1 , Mohd Lateef Wani  1 , Shyam Singh  1 , Abdual Majeed Dar  1 , Nasir-U-Din Wani  1 , Shadab Nabi Wani  1 , Nadeem-Ul Nazeer  1
Affiliations
Review

Lung Contusion: A Clinico-Pathological Entity with Unpredictable Clinical Course

Farooq Ahmad Ganie et al. Bull Emerg Trauma. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Lung contusion is an entity involving injury to the alveolar capillaries, without any tear or cut in the lung tissue. This results in accumulation of blood and other fluids within the lung tissue. The excess fluid interferes with gas exchange leading to hypoxia. The pathophysiology of lung contusion includes ventilation/perfusion mismatching, increased intrapulmonary shunting, increased lung water, segmental lung damage, and a loss of compliance. Clinically, patient's presents with hypoxiemia, hypercarbia and increase in laboured breathing. Patients are treated with supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation whenever indicated. Treatment is primarily supportive. Computed tomography (CT) is very sensitive for diagnosing pulmonary contusion. Pulmonary contusion occurs in 25-35% of all blunt chest traumas.

Keywords: Blunt chest trauma; Computed tomography (CT) ventilation; Pulmonary contusion.

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