[Management of thoracic trauma and intrathoracic injuries].

More than 45% of polytraumatized patients in Germany suffer from severe thoracic trauma. Due to the urgent time factor (e.g. respiratory insufficiency and severe bleeding), a structured procedure in the diagnostics and treatment according to the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) criteria is necessary both prehospital and in the emergency room in order to provide the patient with adequate care. If a patient is stable or can be stabilized there is the option of using extended diagnostics, such as whole body computer tomography (CT) scanning with contrast medium, to select a treatment that is optimally adapted to the injury pattern. This can be performed by open surgery, minimally invasive surgery and interventional radiologically/endoscopically and depends on the injured organ as well as the extent of the injury. This means that only an interdisciplinary approach guarantees optimal care for patients with thoracic trauma.