Pulmonary contusion may present with which sign?

Pulmonary contusion may present with which sign?

• A. Progressive dyspnea
• B. Bruising over sternum
• C. CP
• D. Decreased breath sounds on one side

Answer: (A)

Pulmonary contusion injures lung tissue from blunt chest trauma, causing alveolar hemorrhage and edema that disrupt gas exchange. Because the injury can worsen as edema develops, a patient often experiences increasing shortness of breath over time. This progressive dyspnea best reflects the evolving impairment of oxygenation and lung function, making it the most telling sign among common options. External bruising over the sternum is related to the impact but does not confirm lung injury. Chest pain is common with chest trauma but is nonspecific. Decreased breath sounds on one side can occur with other problems like pneumothorax and may be absent early in contusion, so it’s less reliable as a sign of pulmonary contusion.

Pulmonary contusion injures lung tissue from blunt chest trauma, causing alveolar hemorrhage and edema that disrupt gas exchange. Because the injury can worsen as edema develops, a patient often experiences increasing shortness of breath over time. This progressive dyspnea best reflects the evolving impairment of oxygenation and lung function, making it the most telling sign among common options.

External bruising over the sternum is related to the impact but does not confirm lung injury. Chest pain is common with chest trauma but is nonspecific. Decreased breath sounds on one side can occur with other problems like pneumothorax and may be absent early in contusion, so it’s less reliable as a sign of pulmonary contusion.