Abstract
A 3-year old boy was attacked by 2 bull mastiffs while playing unsupervised in his neighbor’s back yard. After a dramatic rescue, in which 2 adults also were injured, the child was transported to our trauma center. He arrived awake, alert, and preternaturally calm. His initial vital signs were as follows: blood pressure, 129/39 mm Hg; heart rate, 133 beats per minute; respiratory rate, 20 breaths per minute; and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry, 100% on a nonrebreather mask. His workup revealed an open pneumothorax on his left chest and a small puncture wound on his right chest, which did not communicate with the pleura (Figure). He was taken directly to the operating room for wound exploration and chest tube placement. There the surgeons found 3 shattered ribs, torn pleura, and necrotic intercostals muscles, which they debrided. Jean Mullins is Research Assistant, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Ore. Maureen Harrahill is Trauma Program Director/Nurse Practitioner, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
