A case report of thoracic compartment syndrome in the setting of penetrating chest trauma and review of the literature.
Trauma-related thoracic compartment syndrome (TCS) is a rare, life threatening condition that develops secondary to elevated intra-thoracic pressure and manifests itself clinically as significantly elevated airway pressures, inability to provide adequate ventilation and hemodynamic instability temporally related to closure of a thoracic surgical incision. TCS is exceedingly rare in the trauma population. We present a case of TCS following surgical repair of a stab wound injury that necessitated decompressive thoracotomy and peri-operative open-chest management.
Wandling
Michael W
MW
Department of Surgery, Section of General Surgery, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland, S-032 MC5031, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. docgca@aol.com.
An
Gary C
GC