Emergency thoracotomy of chest trauma: A cohort of 30 case series

Background: Chest trauma is one of the leading causes of death in all age groups and accounts for 25–50% of all traumatic injuries. A small but significant proportion of individuals with thoracic injuries need an emergency thoracotomy (ET) during their primary resuscitation, although the majority can be managed conservatively. Surgical intervention has been recommended for the withdrawal of pericardial tamponade, control of large air leaks, open cardiac massage, direct management of pulmonary hemorrhage, and cross-clamping of the thoracic aorta. Thoracotomy can be used to define emergency thoracotomies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics and outcomes of ET for chest trauma. The study also examined the indications for ET and the outcomes of mortality and prognosis in chest trauma patients who underwent ET in the operating room. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 patients who were randomly chosen and admitted to Al-Imamain Al-Kadhymain Teaching Hospital between March 2022 and March 2023. Results: The mean age of the sample population was 31.1 years. Males made up 21 (70%) of the sample, while females made up 9 (30%). There were 22 penetrating chest injuries (73.3%), compared with 8 blunt chest injuries (26.7%): 26 (86.7%) were alive, while 4 (13.3%) were dead. Conclusion: The need for an ET to save the life of a trauma patient must be made better known. Patient delays in transport to the hospital play a crucial role in saving the lives of trauma victims. We must provide the emergency department with all the necessary equipment to perform an urgent thoracotomy.