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- Title
Emergency Department Thoracotomy in Penetrating Chest Trauma Patients with No Signs of Life: A Worthwhile Endeavor.
- Authors
Hatchimonji, Justin S.; Seamon, Mark J.
- Abstract
The article discusses the outcomes of emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) in patients with penetrating chest trauma who have no signs of life (SOL). The study found that EDT can occasionally save patients who are nearly dead or dead upon arrival. The goals of EDT are to temporize wounds in the thorax, perform open cardiac massage, and place a descending thoracic aortic cross clamp. The study showed that EDT was associated with improved hospital survival in patients with penetrating injuries, but not in patients with blunt injuries. The type of penetrating chest injury also impacted survival, with gunshot wounds being more destructive and leading to a higher risk of death compared to stab wounds. The study also highlighted the benefits of open cardiac massage and aortic cross clamping in EDT. However, the risks of indiscriminate EDT, such as anoxic brain injury and resource utilization, need to be considered. The article emphasizes the importance of injury prevention as the best treatment for these types of injuries.
- Subjects
PENETRATING wounds; HOSPITAL emergency services; STAB wounds; GUNSHOT wounds; CARDIAC massage; THORACOTOMY
- Publication
World Journal of Surgery, 2023, Vol 47, Issue 12, p3114
- ISSN
0364-2313
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00268-023-07213-z