Treatment of a Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. The lungs are dependent on numerous other muscles and tissues for proper function. One organ that plays a vital role is the diaphragm. Like other parts of the body, this can be damaged in a traumatic car accident.
Most people understand that the lungs are vital organs because they are required for someone to breathe. Because of this, catastrophic personal injuries involving the lungs can be particularly dangerous. Some important statistics regarding lung injuries include:
- A recent research study estimated that over 200,000 cases of acute lung injury occur on an annual basis in the United States.
- Acute lung injuries have a mortality rate of close to 40 percent.
- A large percentage of people will develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as a result of their injury. The mortality rate of this has been estimated to be between 30 and 40 percent.
- Teenagers have a better prognosis than the elderly when it comes to lung injuries.
Like other traumatic injuries, the severity of lung injuries can vary. One type of lung injury is called a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.
A Case Report: Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia
A case report was recently published discussing an auto accident that led to chest trauma and a severe lung injury. A young man was driving down the road when he lost control of his vehicle. His car flipped and wound up on its roof. During this process, another vehicle struck his car from the side. Because of the severity of the accident, emergency personnel was called to the scene of the crash. When they arrived, they found him unconscious and struggling to breathe. Because of this, they provided supplemental oxygen and transported him to a nearby hospital. Once there, they discovered that he was still struggling to breathe. They performed a CT scan and quickly diagnosed him with a diaphragmatic hernia.
Treatment of this Severe Lung Injury
A diaphragmatic hernia means that the diaphragm has ruptured. As a result, abdominal organs often slide up through a hernia and into the chest cavity. This can collapse the lung, making it difficult to breathe. The individual was taken to an operating room where a laparoscopic surgical procedure was performed. This was done to minimize the size of the incisions made during the process. The abdominal organs were pulled back into the abdomen, and the hernia was closed. Eventually, this young man made a full recovery.
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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. If you or a loved one has suffered lung damage in an accident, please call me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Image Attribution: The picture at the top can be located on Unsplash. It has been shown here with permission.
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