Mr. Van, a 62-year-old man, fell down the stairs from a height of 3 meters, resulting in serious chest injuries. He sustained a fractured rib cage, pleural effusion, and a high risk of infection. After the accident, he experienced difficulty breathing and was treated at Kien Giang Provincial Hospital.
However, despite treatment, his pleural fluid increased significantly, causing compression and partially collapsing his lung. The doctor placed a pleural drain to address these issues; however, after five days, his lungs were still collapsed. Mr. Van was then transferred to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment.
At Tam Anh General Hospital, Dr. Tran Quoc Hoai from the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery diagnosed Mr. Van with 7 broken ribs, a segment of the chest that was displaced, and hemothorax. The medical team performed surgery to access the pleural cavity, remove adhesions, fluid and blood clots and rearrange the displaced ribs. The operation was successful; Mr. Van experienced relief from pain improved lung expansion and no complications after three days.
Fractures in chest trauma are common and can be caused by various incidents such as traffic accidents or falls in daily life activities. Apart from broken ribs, chest injuries can also affect other parts of the body such as the collarbone or shoulder blade or even lungs blood vessels among others . It is crucial for patients with chest injuries to seek immediate medical attention if they experience severe pain or difficulty breathing or any unusual symptoms after an injury to prevent complications and reduce the risk of death.
In conclusion, chest injuries can have serious consequences that require prompt medical intervention to prevent complications and reduce the risk of death or disability if ignored may lead to fatal outcomes it’s important for patients to be vigilant for any signs of abnormalities after a chest injury and seek medical help if they experience persistent pain or difficulty breathing
