It was an icing story that made the headlines. A 24-year-old young man died at the start of the year near Le Mans (Sarthe) of a cardiopulmonary arrest following a pneumothorax. The young man had contacted the Samu several times, who did not immediately orient him towards the emergency room. Almost 8 months later, his family decides to file a complaint against regulatory doctors for “manslaughter”. According to two experts cited in the complaint, if the patient had been covered correctly, his chances of survival were “100 %”.
A pneumothorax corresponds to “a detachment of the lung with the presence of air between the two sheets of the pleura (Fine fabric membrane that covers the lungs and lines the thoracic cavity, editor’s note), explains Dr François-Xavier Moronval, emergency doctor and creator of the Dockfx YouTube channel. The lung then retracts on itself, which prevents him from swelling himself completely and the person can very difficult to breathe“. It occurs most frequently in young older, thin, dry, athletes or with a smoking profile, spontaneously or after a trauma or a pulmonary disease.
“”The classic sign of a pneumothorax manifests itself by brutal pain (on the one hand), more or less intense, increased in cough, inspiration and radiating towards the shoulder, often associated with an discomfort“, Describes the emergency doctor in his video. Concretely, it is difficult to breathe, as if we were out of breath after a sprint, even at rest. Breathing becomes fast and superficial because the affected lung is no longer able to bring enough air. Even if the symptoms seem moderate at the beginning, a pneumothorax can worsen quickly and become a vital emergency. (Samu).
The SAMU regulatory doctor is the best placed person to assess the situation, give you instructions and send appropriate help (doctor, ambulance or firefighters) as quickly as possible. If you have any doubts “And I insist on the slightest doubt“, don’t wait for the symptoms to get worse and be as clear and precise as possible when you explain your symptoms.
