BLUNT THORACIC TRAUMA - 2 YEARS EXPERIENC E AT THE DAKAR TRAUMA-CENTER

Two years after opening the Dakar Trauma Center has received 179 cases of blunt chest trauma without prehospital treatment. Road accidents w ere the leading cause. The initial mortality was 29 patients (16.20%) and 150 patients arrived alive and were treated. The initial mortality was primarily due to the associated extrathoracic injuries mainly hem orragic with hemoperitoneum in 44.82% and brain hemorrage in 24.14% of cases. Secondly, it was due to the thoracic injuries with 41.37% of a nterior flail chest and massive hemothorax in 65,51% of cases. Among t he 150 patients treated, 42% had extrathoracic injuries, mainly head t rauma. 56% were admitted to intensive care units with 39 chest drainag es and 6 thoracotomies were performed The mortality in this group was about 11.33%. The very high initial mortality could be reduced by the organisation of prehospital treatment to take better care of patients involved in road accidents.