Early decortication after thoracic trauma.
Twenty-three patients who sustained either blunt or penetrating thoracic trauma underwent early decortication after failure of chest tube drainage. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) ten with isolated chest injuries were compared with (2) 13 with chest trauma and other associated major injuries. Group 1 patients had earlier decortication (10.3 days), rapid recovery (home in 6.1 days), and little morbidity. Group 2 patients had later decortications (19.3 days), higher incidence of infected clot, yet were home in 9.8 days after thoracotomy. Early decortication is advocated as a safe and expedient means of dealing with the complications of traumatic pneumothorax and hemothorax.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004653:Empyema / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery