Sustaining a Traumatic Chylothorax in Car Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento. The lungs are vital organs that help carry oxygen from the outside world and transmit it into the bloodstream. Unfortunately, the lungs are also fragile and can be easily damaged. The lungs are protected by something called a pleural lining. This helps prevent fluid from filling out around the lungs, compressing them and preventing them from filling with air. Sometimes, chest trauma that damages this pleural lining can lead to a collapsed lung. Examples of possible material that can collapse a lung include:
- Water
- Air
- Blood
- Digestive fluid, also known as chylothorax
A case report was recently published discussing someone who sustained a chylothorax as a result of an auto accident. In the crash, the front of his car was crushed, and his chest impacted the steering wheel. When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they saw that he had massive bruises all over his chest. They transported him to the hospital so that his injuries could be evaluated. On the way there, he started to have difficulty breathing. At the hospital, they scanned him and found that he had fluid around his lungs. They used a syringe and chest tube to evacuate the fluid, where they realized it was digestive juices collapsing his lungs. Further imaging revealed that he had sustained trauma to his biliary tree and gallbladder. He was taken to an operating room so that his injuries could be repaired by a surgical team. He spent several days with a breathing tube in place before his lungs were able to work on their own again. After a while, he was able to eat, his IV lines were removed, and he was discharged home in stable condition.
Help from a Lawyer
When people sustained something as dangerous as a traumatic chylothorax, they could have lasting damage to their lungs. This can make it hard to breathe, which may make it impossible to return to work or school. With significant impacts on someone’s quality of life, the family may be wondering what to do next. Meeting with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Sacramento can be of significant help.
Related Articles
Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or someone you care about has suffered a severe complication following trauma to the chest, please contact me at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400. I will share some friendly, free legal advice.
I am an honored member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
You are welcome to look at our verdicts or settlements.
Please take a few minutes to visit Avvo, Yelp or Google to read reviews from our past clients.
Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels
:dr cha [cs 482] cv