J Korean Med Assoc.  2007 Aug;50(8):702-710. 10.5124/jkma.2007.50.8.702.

Emergency Management of Thoracic Trauma

• Min YI

• KMID: 2184897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2007.50.8.702

Abstract

The chest is frequently injured by both penetrating and blunt trauma. The vast majority of thoracic trauma patients do not require thoracotomy and are successfully managed by tube thoracostomy and supportive measures. A critical diagnostic challenge in patients with thoracic trauma is the possibility of a life-threatening injury. Specific life-threatening thoracic injuries should be suspected, diagnosed, and treated during the initial primary survey. These are airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, massive hemothorax, open pneumothorax, and frail chest.

Keyword

Thoracic; Trauma; Emergencies

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Cardiac Tamponade
Emergencies*
Hemothorax
Humans
Pneumothorax
Thoracic Injuries
Thoracostomy
Thoracotomy
Thorax

Figure

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  Figure 1 The chest radiograph shows tension pneumothorax on the right with shift of mediastinal structures to the left.

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  Figure 2 The above chest radiograph shows nasogastric tube in the right thoracic cavity.

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