Respiratory failure after chest injury: the development of effective treatment.
The development of methods of treatment of severe chest injury over the years is reviewed and the contribution made by the introduction of intensive care units is assessed. A comparative analysis of the results of treatment in large series of patients reported during the period 1946-78 shows that, despite the risk of complications, the addition of artificial ventilation to conservative methods of treatment reduces mortality in patients with respiratory failure associated with chest trauma.
D005409:Flail Chest / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012124:Respiratory Care Units; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy