CHEST INJURIES IN BATTLE CASUALTIES.

Battle casualties treated as indoor patients at a military hospital between December 89 and December 94 were prospectively evaluated. Out of 3640 patients, 388 (10.7%) had chest injuries. Among the 388 patients 190 (48.9%) had haemothorax. Pleurocentesis was the fastest and the most reliable means of establishing the diagnosis of haemothorax. Thoracostomy with supportive care was adequate to manage 75 per cent of these cases which included more than 50 per cent of those with massive haemothorax. Twelve patients out of the 190 cases (6.3%) who presented with haemothorax needed thoracotomy. The overall mortality in this series was 7 per cent.