[Pathophysiology of thoracic injuries].

A systematic review of the pathophysiology of thoracic injuries has not yet been published. As an introduction all kinds of injuries of the chest are listed. The causes of the so called "acute thorax" are described. Furthermore three cardinal symptoms which occur after thoracic trauma are distinguished and explained: hemorrhagic shock, the combination of venous congestion and low cardiac output (which is very similar to cardiogenic shock) and hypoxia. A short description of the pathophysiology of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is given. The review ends with some remarks to the therapeutic management of chest injury and to the aftereffects of initial therapy.