The management of stab wounds to the chest: sixteen years' experience.
In a retrospective review of 16 years of admissions to a regional cardiothoracic unit, 76 patients were admitted with stab wounds to the chest. Of these wounds, 75% were managed conservatively with tube drainage and observation and 25% required surgical intervention. 5.2% were managed as emergency room thoracotomies, 15.8% as urgent procedures in the operating theatre and 4% as late procedures. The total mortality was 1.3% and was seen in the emergency room thoracotomy group (mortality 25%). The risk if sub-diaphragmatic injury in the presence of chest injury is highlighted.
Ashraf
S S
SS
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Volans
A P
AP
Sharif
H
H
Chaudhry
I
I
Akhtar
K
K
Siddiqi
T
T
Odam
N J
NJ
Grotte
G J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*