Emergency department thoracotomy: still useful after abdominal exsanguination?
BACKGROUND
Although literature regarding emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) outcome after abdominal exsanguination is limited, numerous reports have documented poor EDT survival in patients with anatomic injuries other than cardiac wounds. As a result, many trauma surgeons consider prelaparotomy EDT futile for patients dying from intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Our primary study objective was to prove that prelaparotomy EDT is beneficial to patients with exsanguinating abdominal hemorrhage.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 237 consecutive EDTs for penetrating injury (2000-2006) revealed 50 patients who underwent EDT for abdominal exsanguination. Age, gender, injury mechanism and location, field and emergency department (ED) signs of life, prehospital time, initial ED cardiac rhythm, vital signs, Glasgow Coma Score, blood transfusion requirements, predicted mortality, primary abdominal injuries, and the need for temporary abdominal closure were analyzed. The primary study endpoint was neurologically intact hospital survival.


RESULTS
The 50 patients who underwent prelaparotomy EDT for abdominal exsanguination were largely young (mean, 27.3 +/- 8.2 years) males (94%) suffering firearm injuries (98%). Patients presented with field (84%) and ED signs of life (78%) after a mean prehospital time of 21.2 +/- 9.8 minutes. Initial ED cardiac rhythms were variable and Glasgow Coma Score was depressed (mean, 4.2 +/- 3.2). Eight (16%) patients survived hospitalization, neurologically intact. Of these eight, all were in hemorrhagic shock because of major abdominal vascular (75%) or severe liver injuries (25%) and all required massive blood transfusion (mean, 28.6 +/- 17.3 units) and extended intensive care unit length of stay (mean, 36.3 +/- 25.7 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite critical injuries, 16% survived hospitalization, neurologically intact, after EDT for abdominal exsanguination. Our results suggest that prelaparotomy EDT provides survival benefit to penetrating trauma victims dying from intra-abdominal hemorrhage.
Seamon
Mark J
MJ
Department of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. mark.seamon@tuhs.temple.edu
Pathak
Abhijit S
AS
Bradley
Kevin M
KM
Fisher
Carol A
CA
Gaughan
John A
JA
Kulp
Heather
H
Pieri
Paola G
PG
Santora
Thomas A
TA
Goldberg
Amy J
AJ
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000601:surgery; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*