[Significance of blunt injury of thorax in polytrauma.].

Based on the analysis of a group of 100 patients with polytrauma evaluation was made of the impact of thoracic injury on post-injury period, including the incidence of complications, and on the outcome of the treatment. Blunt thoracic injury occurred in 64 patients. The most frequent complications of intrathoracic injury were pneumothorax, haemothorax and contusion of lungs. In the group of patients with polytrauma involving also the chest there was a more frequent incidence of respiratory insufficiency, higher morbidity (higher incidence of insufficiencies of organs and septic complications) and higher mortality (34%). The cause of mortality within 24 hours after admission was irreversible traumatic hemorrhagic shock, later the consequences of craniocerebral injury. The injury of chest in polytrauma deteriorates its prognosis. Key words: polytrauma, blunt thoracic injury, diagnostic - therapeutical algorithm, outcomes of the treatment.