[Experience on single-lung mechanical ventilation combined with damage control in treatment of patients with severe...

On April 6, 2020, a case of severe crush injuries in head, neck, chest and right upper extremity was admitted to Qingzhou Hospital Affiliated to the First Medical University of Shandong Province. In addition to the crush injuries, the case also suffered from shock, crush syndrome, trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The female patient was 44 years old, and was admitted to the hospital at 07:00 on April 6, 2020 due to traffic accident with head, neck, chest, right upper limb injuries with disturbance of consciousness for 1 hour. Admission physical examination: body temperature was 35.6 centigrade. The patient was drowsy, with swelling and cyanosis around the right orbit and right cheek. The skin was severely abraded with blood seepage. The conjunctiva was pale. The lips were slightly cyanotic. The right chest collapsed and deformed with abnormal breathing. The skin of chest wall was blue and purple with extensive feeling of holding snow under the skin. The breath sound of right lung was low and dry and wet rales could be heard. Laboratory examination: routine blood test showed that white blood cell count (WBC) was normal, red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet count (PLT) decreased, blood glucose increased; urine routine examination showed glucose +++, urine occult blood +++, urinary protein +++, visible transparent and granular tube type; coagulation indicators and blood biochemical examination were abnormal. Arterial blood gas analysis showed that pH and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) decreased. X-ray showed comminuted fracture of distal humerus and proximal end of right ulna and radius with dislocation of right elbow joint. CT showed swelling of soft tissue around the right orbit and depressed fracture of inner wall. After admission, single-lung ventilation, tracheotomy and prone ventilation were applied to increase oxygenation level and relieving ARDS. Fluid of damage control for resuscitation was applied to reverse shock and blood transfusion was used to control hemorrhage and TIC. According to the patient's conditions and theory of damage control surgery, right chest drainage and amputation of the right upper extremity amputation were performed in time. Then, the resection in the middle and lower part of right lung, lung repairment, and internal rib fixation were performed. Finally, selective operation was performed to cover the open wound with healing dressing, using negative pressure for suction and carrying out "stamp" skin grafting on the right chest. After treatment, the patient was out of danger, and satisfactory clinical results were achieved in the end.