The Pneumothorax in JFK's Right Lung

[Drew Phipps]

Well, Donaghue/Menninger (and others) have theorized that Kennedy was hit by a ricochet at the first shot, which started his visible reaction on the Zapruder film. According to Donaghue, the "single bullet" arrives after JFK's hands are already near his throat area.. I was wondering if the trachea could possibly have been significantly displaced to the left in that short period of time, which would move the trachea out of the line required to strike Connally.

[David Josephs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX58vrL5ZiA

It is interesting to note that, at about 4:22 of this interview, Dr. Jenkins describes the insertion of a chest drainage tube into JFK's left chest. The reason he gives for this is, according to Dr. Jenkins, the fact that one doctor had listened to that side of the chest, while Dr. Jenkins was performing artificial respiration with a bag valve mask, and had heard no breath sounds.

As this oration by Dr. Jenkins is obviously many years after the assassination, he can be forgiven a certain degree of confusion but, the fact remains that in his medical report (Appendix VIII of the WCR) Dr. Jenkins clearly states the chest tube was inserted in the RIGHT chest.

"Doctors Charles Baxter, Malcolm Perry, and Robert McClelland arrived at the same time and began a tracheostomy and started the insertion of a right chest tube, since there was also obvious tracheal and chest damage. Doctors Paul Peters and Kemp Clark arrived simultaneously and immediately thereafter assisted respectively with the insertion of the right chest tube and with manual closed chest cardiac compression to assure circulation."

Note also he states there was "obvious chest damage".

From the Warren Commission testimony of Dr. Marion T. Jenkins:

"About this time Drs. Kemp Clark and Paul Peters came in, and Dr. Peters because of the appearance of the right chest, the obvious physical characteristics of a pneumothorax, put in a closed chest drainage chest tube. Because I felt no peripheral pulse and was not aware of any pulse, I reported this to Dr. Clark and he started closed chest cardiac massage."

A pneumothorax is usually an indication of serious damage to a lung, and results in the collapse of that lung. This is why the doctors were unable to hear breath sounds, and elected to insert a drainage tube in the right chest.

While it is likely that JFK was also suffering a haemothorax of the right lung (accumulation of blood and fluid), the most serious condition of the lungs was the pneumothorax. As JFK was lying on his back, the back entrance wound, unknown to the Parkland doctors, was likely sealed by the back being in contact with the table. As the lung was compromised (ruptured) each breath, assisted or otherwise, would be pulled through the rupture in the lung, and the lung would not inflate. Instead, the air would pass into the pleural cavity between the lung and the chest wall and be trapped there, as the lung would flatten out on expiration and not allow the air to be expelled. With each breath, the amount of air in this cavity, with the back wound sealed off, would increase, until the pressure began exerting itself on the heart, major blood vessels and the left lung.

This condition is known as a "tension" pneumothorax and, unless the pressure in the pleural cavity is relieved with a chest tube, this condition is invariably fatal as the function of the other organs of the chest is so badly impaired. The chest tube is connected to a water seal chamber that prevents air returning through the tube to the pleural cavity during inspiration. In the field, first responders use the Asherman Chest Seal to seal off punctures of the chest. It seals off the wound, preventing air from entering the pleural cavity during inspiration (open pneumothorax) but has a one way valve that allows any pressure built up in the pleural cavity (tension pneumothorax) to escape.



Another classic sign of a tension pneumothorax is deviation of the trachea (windpipe) away from the affected lung. Several doctors noted this on JFK when he arrived at Trauma Room One, and I believe this to be one of the "obvious physical characteristics of a pneumothorax" Dr. Jenkins was referring to.

Of course, everyone realizes that the type of damage to the right lung indicated here was contrary to the findings at the autopsy.

There is indeed a scar from a chest tube on the LEFT side of the body...Darkened square... (Could Jenkins have meant right side when facing him?)


Was reading "The Second Autopsy" by Bjorn Gjerde and he pointed out the lighting problem in this photo as well, especially around the trach opening.

If the light was creating these shadows, any reason that one area is so much lighter than others?

[Bob Prudhomme]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX58vrL5ZiA

It is interesting to note that, at about 4:22 of this interview, Dr. Jenkins describes the insertion of a chest drainage tube into JFK's left chest. The reason he gives for this is, according to Dr. Jenkins, the fact that one doctor had listened to that side of the chest, while Dr. Jenkins was performing artificial respiration with a bag valve mask, and had heard no breath sounds.

As this oration by Dr. Jenkins is obviously many years after the assassination, he can be forgiven a certain degree of confusion but, the fact remains that in his medical report (Appendix VIII of the WCR) Dr. Jenkins clearly states the chest tube was inserted in the RIGHT chest.

"Doctors Charles Baxter, Malcolm Perry, and Robert McClelland arrived at the same time and began a tracheostomy and started the insertion of a right chest tube, since there was also obvious tracheal and chest damage. Doctors Paul Peters and Kemp Clark arrived simultaneously and immediately thereafter assisted respectively with the insertion of the right chest tube and with manual closed chest cardiac compression to assure circulation."

Note also he states there was "obvious chest damage".

From the Warren Commission testimony of Dr. Marion T. Jenkins:

"About this time Drs. Kemp Clark and Paul Peters came in, and Dr. Peters because of the appearance of the right chest, the obvious physical characteristics of a pneumothorax, put in a closed chest drainage chest tube. Because I felt no peripheral pulse and was not aware of any pulse, I reported this to Dr. Clark and he started closed chest cardiac massage."

A pneumothorax is usually an indication of serious damage to a lung, and results in the collapse of that lung. This is why the doctors were unable to hear breath sounds, and elected to insert a drainage tube in the right chest.

While it is likely that JFK was also suffering a haemothorax of the right lung (accumulation of blood and fluid), the most serious condition of the lungs was the pneumothorax. As JFK was lying on his back, the back entrance wound, unknown to the Parkland doctors, was likely sealed by the back being in contact with the table. As the lung was compromised (ruptured) each breath, assisted or otherwise, would be pulled through the rupture in the lung, and the lung would not inflate. Instead, the air would pass into the pleural cavity between the lung and the chest wall and be trapped there, as the lung would flatten out on expiration and not allow the air to be expelled. With each breath, the amount of air in this cavity, with the back wound sealed off, would increase, until the pressure began exerting itself on the heart, major blood vessels and the left lung.

This condition is known as a "tension" pneumothorax and, unless the pressure in the pleural cavity is relieved with a chest tube, this condition is invariably fatal as the function of the other organs of the chest is so badly impaired. The chest tube is connected to a water seal chamber that prevents air returning through the tube to the pleural cavity during inspiration. In the field, first responders use the Asherman Chest Seal to seal off punctures of the chest. It seals off the wound, preventing air from entering the pleural cavity during inspiration (open pneumothorax) but has a one way valve that allows any pressure built up in the pleural cavity (tension pneumothorax) to escape.



Another classic sign of a tension pneumothorax is deviation of the trachea (windpipe) away from the affected lung. Several doctors noted this on JFK when he arrived at Trauma Room One, and I believe this to be one of the "obvious physical characteristics of a pneumothorax" Dr. Jenkins was referring to.

Of course, everyone realizes that the type of damage to the right lung indicated here was contrary to the findings at the autopsy.

There is indeed a scar from a chest tube on the LEFT side of the body...Darkened square... (Could Jenkins have meant right side when facing him?)


Was reading "The Second Autopsy" by Bjorn Gjerde and he pointed out the lighting problem in this photo as well, especially around the trach opening.

If the light was creating these shadows, any reason that one area is so much lighter than others?

I seriously doubt it, David. Medical people invariably speak in anatomical terms to avoid confusion (ie. a large gaping wound in the right rear of JFK's head)

There was a subtle movement at the autopsy to deflect serious attention away from the damage caused by the back wound, and one of these efforts centred around there being bi-lateral chest tubes inserted instead of only a right chest tube; one in the left chest and one in the right. I don't imagine much effort was required to make an incision in the left chest to match the one in the right chest.

Even the reason for inserting chest tubes was distorted and given as combating "subcutaneous emphysema". While being a real condition, it is far from being life threatening, and would not be something the doctors in Trauma Room One would concern themselves with while trying to save JFK's life. Plus, insertion of bi-lateral chest tubes is not a procedure that will relieve subcutaneous emphysema.

What I find very strange is that while the Parkland doctors maintain the right chest tube was inserted AND connected to a sealed water bottle for drainage, the doctors at Bethesda claim only incomplete incisions were made, and that no chest tube was actually inserted. Only one version can be true.

[David Josephs]

Gotcha, thanks...

Nice explanation. Didn't know Bethesda claimed these were cosmetic.

[Bob Prudhomme]

Gotcha, thanks...

Nice explanation. Didn't know Bethesda claimed these were cosmetic.

Not actually cosmetic; they were described by the doctors at the autopsy as being incomplete which, considering the very small amount of tissue the chest tube goes through, and the fact Parkland doctors maintained a drainage line was connected to the chest tube and then connected to a sealed water bottle, seems very strange.

Edit: Just realized you were using the word "cosmetic" to mean superficial.

[Bob Prudhomme]

Well, Donaghue/Menninger (and others) have theorized that Kennedy was hit by a ricochet at the first shot, which started his visible reaction on the Zapruder film. According to Donaghue, the "single bullet" arrives after JFK's hands are already near his throat area.. I was wondering if the trachea could possibly have been significantly displaced to the left in that short period of time, which would move the trachea out of the line required to strike Connally.

My medical experience is limited to being a part time paramedic on the ambulance in our town but, I would still have to say that I doubt the deviation of the trachea could occur that quickly. I will put this question to one of our doctors next time we take a patient to our hospital.

Considering that the Magic Bullet had to clear the outside tip of the right transverse process of JFK's C7 vertebra before going on to go through the right side of his trachea, I do not believe Connally ever was in the line of fire of this bullet; leastways not his right armpit.

P.S.

I have to say, though, that I have often thought that while JFK is obviously reacting to a wound, he appears to be shot again just after emerging from behind the sign. His elbows come up and he appears to almost lunge forward.

[Drew Phipps]

I took my daughter to the doctor the other day and had a good look at the skeleton in her office. I have serious doubts that anything of any size larger than a grain of sand could pass from the skull out the foramen magnum without striking one of the vertebrae (not to mention then apparently changing course to pass horizontally thru the trachea and out the throat...).

Sorry this topic was raised in another thread not this one.

[Bob Prudhomme]

I took my daughter to the doctor the other day and had a good look at the skeleton in her office. I have serious doubts that anything of any size larger than a grain of sand could pass from the skull out the foramen magnum without striking one of the vertebrae (not to mention then apparently changing course to pass horizontally thru the trachea and out the throat...).

Sorry this topic was raised in another thread not this one.

Yeah, it is kind of a long shot, isn't it, even though there is a gap between the foramen magnum and the C1 vertebra that is filled with fibrous connective tissue.



In this diagram, the C1 vertebra is labelled by its other name, the "Atlas" and the C2 by its other name, the "Axis".

[David Josephs]

Bob... wouldn't a bullet passing thru the body leave a channel of burned anatomy and a trail behind it?

The lie told that a bullet could pass thru this area of the body and not strike anything is complete hogwash...

I wish I could remember the name of the poster... he determined what happened to the right side of JFK's chest with the help of these images and professional medical assistance..

Like the lies everywhere else, there was no bullet which transversed the body, it was removed from the intercostals

[Drew Phipps]

looks like from those pictures that the real "trick" the magic bullet had to pull was missing the two arteries, as well as the back and right side of the trachea. If the bullet is far enough (to the right) as it passes the back and right side of the trachea, it should clip one or more of those arteries.