Application of emergency thoracotomy in treatment of chest trauma / 重庆医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the application indications of emergency thoracotomy (ET) and the surgical strategy in the treatment of chest trauma .Methods The clinical data of 35 chest trauma patients treated by ET from January 2010 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively .Results In 35 cases ,the injury severity score (ISS) was 12-65 ,average 31 .63 .23 cases were pene‐trating injuries and 12 cases were blunt injuries .28 cases (80 .00% ) manifest as shock on admission .Blood loss in all cases was 1 000-5 000 mL ,average 2 400 mL and 20 cases were over 3 000 mL .ET was performed in the emergency room (6 cases) and the operative room (29 cases) .The time of admission to surgery in all cases was<30 min .12 cases (34 .29% ) died ,with average ISS score of 48 .26 .The main causes of death were cardiac tamponade and hemorrhagic shock .23 cases (65 .71% ) survived .The surviv‐al rates of penetrating and blunt injury were 78 .26% (18/23) and 41 .67% (5/12) respectively .The occurrence rate of complications in the survivals was 39 .13% (9/23) .Conclusion Massive bleeding ,ventilation dysfunction and cardiac tamponade caused by severe chest trauma are the important indications of ET ;the patient with chest penetrating injury on high‐risk positions should be actively performed the exploratory thoracotomy ;race against time rapid thoracotomy is the key for successful treatment .