SAQ 1642 – Penetrating thoracic trauma with chest X-ray and CT

Marked out of 19.00

A 25-year-old man is stabbed multiple times to the posterior trunk during a domestic dispute. On arrival his GCS is 15, HR 140/min, BP 80/40 mmHg, RR 32/min, and oxygen saturation 98% on 15 L oxygen via non-rebreather mask.

His chest X-ray is shown below. After initial management, a CT slice is obtained and shown below. No other injuries are found and his vital signs normalise, but several hours later he develops recurrent hypotension while awaiting surgical admission.

Chest X-ray after penetrating thoracic trauma
Chest X-ray.
CT abdomen slice after penetrating thoracic trauma
CT abdomen slice.

State your interpretation of the chest X-ray, supported by four relevant radiographic abnormalities.

(Marked out of 5.0)


/ 5

State the emergency procedure you would perform for the injury shown on the chest X-ray.

(Marked out of 1.0)


/ 1

State two factors you would consider when determining whether the procedure has successfully managed the injury.

(Marked out of 2.0)


/ 2

List two indications for surgical management of the injury demonstrated on the chest X-ray.

(Marked out of 2.0)


/ 2

List three abnormalities evident on the CT slice.

(Marked out of 3.0)


/ 3

List three potential causes of recurrent hypotension and how you would assess each.

(Marked out of 6.0)


/ 6

Total Score: 0 / 19

Percentage: 0%