A Mancini1, A Bonne1, A Pirvu2, P Porcu3, P Bouzat4, J Abba1, C Arvieux5. 1. Service de chirurgie digestive et de l'urgence, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, CS 102017, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France. 2. Service de chirurgie thoracique, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, CS 102017, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France. 3. Service de chirurgie cardiaque, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, CS 102017, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France. 4. Service d'anesthésiologie et réanimation, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, CS 102017, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France. 5. Service de chirurgie digestive et de l'urgence, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, CS 102017, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France. Electronic address: CArvieux@chu-grenoble.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Resuscitative thoracotomy, a potentially life-saving procedure, is used exceptionally, and essentially for penetrating trauma. Most of the available literature is American while reports from Europe are sparse. We report our experience in a French level 1-trauma center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient records (patient age, gender, mechanism of injury, indication for emergency thoracotomy, anatomic injuries, interventions and survival) for all patients who underwent emergency thoracotomy between January 2005 and December 2015 were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (19 males) underwent emergency thoracotomy. Median age was 27.5 (12-67) years. Twelve were performed for blunt trauma (55%) and 10 for penetrating injuries (45%). Thirteen patients presented with cardiac arrest, while nine had deep and refractory hypotension. Overall, survival was 32% (n=7). There were no survivors in the blunt trauma group while seven of ten with penetrating injuries survived. All patients presenting with cardiac arrest died. CONCLUSION: The survival rate in this French retrospective study was in accordance with the literature.
OBJECTIVE: Resuscitative thoracotomy, a potentially life-saving procedure, is used exceptionally, and essentially for penetrating trauma. Most of the available literature is American while reports from Europe are sparse. We report our experience in a French level 1-trauma center. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Patient records (patient age, gender, mechanism of injury, indication for emergency thoracotomy, anatomic injuries, interventions and survival) for all patients who underwent emergency thoracotomy between January 2005 and December 2015 were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (19 males) underwent emergency thoracotomy. Median age was 27.5 (12-67) years. Twelve were performed for blunt trauma (55%) and 10 for penetrating injuries (45%). Thirteen patients presented with cardiac arrest, while nine had deep and refractory hypotension. Overall, survival was 32% (n=7). There were no survivors in the blunt trauma group while seven of ten with penetrating injuries survived. All patients presenting with cardiac arrest died. CONCLUSION: The survival rate in this French retrospective study was in accordance with the literature.