Question:

A 22-year-old male presents to the ED with a status of post GSW to his right chest. The patient’s CXR and chest CT show what findings?

Answer:

This patient suffered a GSW to the right chest that resulted in a right hemopneumothorax and a right 3rd rib fracture. The patient was also found to have a large pulmonary contusion (as seen on CXR and chest CT). This patient received a chest tube that was eventually removed, and the GSW was treated with frequent wet-to-dry dressing packings. The patient continued to have residual dyspnea due to the pulmonary contusion that took about two months to resolve.