An open chest wound is a wound in which the skin and the chest wall are penetrated.

An open chest wound can be caused by a bullet, knife blade, shrapnel, or other object. Some of the signs and symptoms of an open chest wound are given below.

a. Sucking or hissing sounds coming from chest wound. When a casualty with an open chest wound inhales, air goes in the wound. When he exhales, air escapes from the wound. This airflow sometimes causes a “sucking” or “hissing” sound. Because of this distinct sound, an open chest wound is often called a “sucking chest wound.”

b. Difficulty in breathing (dyspnea).

c. Visible puncture wound in the chest (front or back). If you are not sure if a wound has penetrated the chest wall completely, treat the wound as though it were an open chest wound.

d. Impaled object protruding from the chest.

e. Frothy blood or air bubbles in the blood around the wound site.

f. Bright red or frothy blood being coughed up.

g. Sputum containing blood.

h. Chest not rising normally during inhalation.

i. Pain in the shoulder or chest area. The pain usually increases with breathing]

j. Bluish tint (cyanosis) of the lips, inside of the mouth, the fingertips, or nail beds. This color change is caused by the decreased amount of oxygen in the blood.