A 45-year-old man has blunt chest trauma with bilateral pulmonary contusions and a left flail segment. What is the primary cause of respiratory failur...

Question

A 45-year-old man has blunt chest trauma with bilateral pulmonary contusions and a left flail segment. What is the primary cause of respiratory failure?

Accepted Answer

The underlying pulmonary contusion is the primary cause - contused lung fills with blood and oedema causing shunt and V/Q mismatch; paradoxical movement contributes but is less important than the parenchymal injury

Answer

Paradoxical chest wall movement only

Answer

Pneumothorax only

Answer

Diaphragmatic rupture

Answer

Fat embolism

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Flail Chest - Pulmonary Contusion

A 45-year-old man has blunt chest trauma with bilateral pulmonary contusions and a left flail segment. What is the primary cause of respiratory failure?