title: Highlights of the history of nonpenetrating chest trauma.
abstract: The basic principles of the pathology, physiology, diagnosis, and management of nonpenetrating chest trauma evolved to a significant degree before World War II. The advances in the past 40 years include more frequent use of endotracheal intubation, improved ventilatory assistance, better control of blood volume, antibiotics, the clinical application of blood-gas studies, diagnostic imaging, and specialized nursing and monitoring in intensive care units. Thus, the improvement in survival is not primarily attributable to operative measures but rather to enhanced supportive measures.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slivko
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D005060:Europe; D006115:Greece; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000266:history*