THORACOTOMY FOR CHEST TRAUMA

With intensive care, pleural drainage and judicioux physiotherapy most thoracic injuries can be treated adequately. 571 patients were treate d for severe thoracic injuries over the last 10 years. A thoracotomy w as necessary in 14 % of the patients with blunt trauma (BT) and 33 % w ith penetrating trauma (PT). Thoracotomy for PT was performed earlier and had better results than thoracotomy for BT. Seventy-five percent o f ff were operated in the first hour after admission against 29 % of B T. Postoperative mortality for PT was three times lower than for BT (1 8 % vs 56 %). Reasons for this are the higher rate of injuries associa ted with BT. Surgical procedure depends on the type and extent of the thoracic and general injuries and on the patient's general condition.