Can A Collapsed Lung Heal On Its Own?
Pneumothorax
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking HCM.
I am sorry to hear that you were shot. Take some towels and apply pressure on the gun shot wounds.Nothing else. Also try to stay calm. I know it is heard to do that,but you need to have a low heart rate. Also try to have deep breathing.
The situation that you describe,is called pneumothorax (air in the chest caviti) and probably even blood in your lungs (hemothorax). Through the 2 holes that you have,the lungs and chest cavity is communicating with your skin and the bubbles that you describe is air mixed with blood.
The EMT will secure first your air routes,than monitor your heart and start with fluids and other types of medicine depending from your condition.Also they will apply some pain relievers, oxygen...ect. Depending from the blood loss they might even transfuse 1 or 2 unites of blood. Don't worry, the EMT will do the best to save you.
Wishing you all the best.
Dr.Endri Katro
Follow up...
Detailed Answer:
The bolin chest seals (BCS) is a sterile occlusive chest wound dressing for treating open pneumothorax and preventing tension pneumothorax that result from gunshots, stab wounds, or other penetrating chest trauma. For every person,to be able to breathe,air needs to pass through lungs only. In the case of a trauma,or gunshot than air passed through the skin since the pressure in the chest is negative. In this case,our muscles moves,but we can't breathe because there is not enough air in the lungs.
Apply pressure with towels to block the holes and if there is someone else near you he can help you also to stop air from entering the holes.
Air passes through the way least resisant
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The sucking chest wound is called when the wound is 66% or more of the width of the trachea (trachea is an anatomical part that connects our nose and mouth with the lungs).
In the sucking chest wound, air is sucked into the thoracic cavity through the chest wall instead of into the lungs through the airways. This occurs because air follows the path of least resistance. so more air is passing through the holes than from trachea.
You need to try to breath slowly, probably even use your abdominal muscles. Stay propped up. This way more pressure will be build in your chest. So the amount of air passing through your lungs will be enough to keep you alive and to not do any damage at your body.
During an emergency, the holes, can be blocked with everything that can be found near by but since the EMTs are already there, let them do it with the equipment's that they're carrying.
My Best Wishes
Get Well Soon