title: Treatment of missile injuries of the chest: Belfast experience.
abstract: Four hundred and thirty patients with major missile-induced injuries of the chest have been treated in one surgical unit. Over 30% of cases had multiple injuries. The immediate first-aid treatment and hospital management are described. As a result of our experiences, an aggressive surgical approach has developed and our indications for thoracotomy are described. The overall mortality was 6%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D009660:Northern Ireland; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*