title: [Factors affecting mortality in blunt thoracic trauma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blunt thoracic trauma is usually associated with extra-thoracic injuries, but the effect of blunt thoracic trauma on mortality is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with blunt thoracic trauma were evaluated with regard to clinical findings and factors affecting mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 76 patients (37.2±15 years) in the study group. Traffic accidents (63%) were the most common cause of trauma. Pneumothorax (54%), rib fracture (42%), hemothorax (22%) and lung contusion (22%) were common thoracic injuries. Extra-thoracic injuries were most commonly seen in the extremities (46%) and abdomen (40%). Glasgow Coma, Injury Severity and Revised Trauma Scores were 14±2.6, 19±13 and 7.4±1.5, respectively. Non-operative management was effective in 37 (48.7%) patients, tube thoracotomy and thoracotomy were performed in 37 (48.7%) and 2 (2.6%) patients, respectively. Mortality rate was 10.5%. Systolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg and superficial and apneic respiration at the first admission, and values of trauma scoring systems were significantly associated with mortality (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of thoracic trauma on mortality with regard to thoracic pathology is not shown, although it is usually associated with extra-thoracic injuries. There was a close relationship between the pattern of respiration, values of systolic blood pressure and trauma scoring systems, and mortality. Non-operative management and tube thoracotomy were effective in most of the cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. hasbahceci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasbahçeci
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozpek
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Başak
authors.forename: Müjgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calışkan
authors.forename: Behçet Kemal
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ener
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alimoğlu
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult