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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Outcome of a Strict Policy on Emergency Department Thoracotomies
Archives of Surgery, Volume 130, No. 7, Year 1995
Notification
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Description
To audit emergency department thoracotomies from January 1981 to May 1993. Retrospective analysis of case records. A large (3000-bed) tertiary care academic hospital; the department of general surgery (including trauma) consists of 360 beds. All patients who underwent a thoracotomy in the emergency department during the above period. An emergency department thoracotomy was performed on trauma patients with recordable vital signs and rapid deterioration and on patients with uncontrollable bleeding or profound hypotension not responsive to resuscitation. The procedure was performed either on the resuscitation trolley in the emergency department or in the adjacent operating room. Survival and subsequent neurological function after thoracotomy. There were 312 stab injuries, 358 gunshot injuries, and 176 blunt injuries. Survival occurred in 26 stab-wound cases (8.3%), in 16 gunshot cases (4.4%), and in one blunt injury case (0.6%). There was one patient with neurological impairment in each of the three injury groups. Those with penetrating chest injuries had the best survival rate (20%), and the survival rate for penetrating abdominal trauma was 6.8%. Emergency department thoracotomies have a definite role in the management of trauma patients. The best results are obtained in patients with penetrating chest injuries. © 1995 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Velmahos, George C.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Degiannis, Elias D.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Souter, Irene
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Allwood, Anthony C.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Saadia, Roger
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Statistics
Citations: 106
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1001/archsurg.1995.01430070096019
e-ISSN:
15383644
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Cohort Study