A pulmonary contusion is a contusion (bruise) of the lung, caused by chest
trauma. As a result of damage to capillaries, blood and other fluids
accumulate in the lung tissue. The excess fluid interferes with gas
exchange, potentially leading to inadequate oxygen levels (hypoxia). Unlike
pulmonary laceration, another type of lung injury, pulmonary contusion does
not involve a cut or tear of the lung tissue. A pulmonary contusion usually
is caused by blunt trauma but also is caused by explosions or a shock wave
associated with penetrating trauma. With the use of explosives during World
Wars I and II, pulmonary contusion resulting from blasts gained recognition.
In the 1960s its occurrence began to receive wider recognition in civilians,
for whom it is usually caused by traffic accidents. Often nothing more than
supplemental oxygen and close monitoring is needed; however, intensive care
may be required. The severity ranges from mild to deadly—small contusions
may have little or no impact on the patient's health—yet pulmonary contusion
is the most common type of potentially lethal chest trauma. With an
estimated mortality rate of 14–40%, pulmonary contusion plays a key role in
determining whether an individual will die or suffer serious ill effects as
the result of trauma.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_contusion
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1443:
Rebelling against the Ottoman Empire, Skanderbeg and his forces liberated
Kruja in Middle Albania and raised the Albanian flag.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanderbeg)
1920:
Thirty-six local Irish Republican Army volunteers killed seventeen members
of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, marking a turning
point in the Irish War of Independence.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmichael_Ambush)
1979:
Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Antarctica's Mount Erebus, killing
all 257 people on board.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_New_Zealand_Flight_901)
1990:
After being elected as leader of the British Conservative Party one day
earlier, John Major officially succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Major)
1998:
The current Constitution of Albania, sanctioning a parliamentary republic,
people's sovereignty, fundamental rights of the citizens, and other
important points, was ratified via a voter-approved referendum.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Albania)
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
cognoscente (n) Someone possessing superior or specialized
knowledge in a particular field.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cognoscente)
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight— always to try to be a little
kinder than is necessary?
--J. M. Barrie
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/J._M._Barrie)