Evaluation Of Thoracic Trauma Research Articles

Evaluation of Thoracic Trauma in the Emergency Department

Evaluation of Thoracic Trauma in the Emergency Department

Evaluation of thoracic trauma in dogs and cats: a review of seventeen cases

Summary The objective of this study was to assess the eti ology, diagnosis, treatment methods, surgical findi ngs, postoperative results and necropsy findings of seve nteen cases of thoracic trauma by evaluating medica l records. A car accident, falling down, stabbing and bites were identified as the causes of trauma. Dia gnosed pathologies in the cases included pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusion, lung lobe collapse or eventration, rib fractures, etc. The treatment meth ods employed in these cases were medical therapy, thoracocentesis, tube thoracostomy, lateral interco stal thoracotomy, median sternotomy and thoracic wall revisions. Atelectasis, rupture, laceration or cont usion of the lung lobes, pulmonary artery rupture, rib fracture and etc. were the surgical findings. Overa ll, seven dogs and four cats recovered completely. Two dogs were euthanized due to other pathologies inclu ding multisegmental lumbar fracture, paraplegia and postpneumonectomy syndrome. Three dogs and a cat died during treatment management. The necropsies revealed that the animals had pulmonary artery and tracheobronchial ruptures. The cat also had sudden onset cardiac arrest during surgery. In conclusion, cases with thoracic trauma should be assessed closely an d managed with the necessary emergency and surgical procedures.

The clinical utility of rib detail films in the evaluation of trauma

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical utility of rib detail films (RDFs) when used in addition to chest radiographs in the evaluation of thoracic trauma. A retrospective review of medical records of all patients who obtained RDFs over a 4-year period was carried out. The study participants included 480 adult trauma patients who received RDFs and chest radiographs. Patients were assessed for the presence or absence of rib fracture(s) on radiographs, clinical management, follow-up, and complications resulting from rib fractures. Fractures were identified in 97 (20%) patients by RDFs. There were 26 (27%) complications due to rib injury, all of which were visualized on chest radiographs but not RDFs. Follow-up demonstrated no delayed complications. Treatment was directed only at complications. Visualization of rib fracture alone does not result in any significant change in treatment or outcome for the patient. Therefore, RDFs for blunt chest trauma have a limited clinical utility.

Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Thoracic Trauma

Echocardiography has become a useful diagnostic modality in the evaluation of cardiovascular injury after thoracic trauma. Valuable information about cardiac wall motion, valvular function, pericardial effusions, and ventricular volume status can be obtained without significant risk. More recent application for the diagnosis of traumatic aortic disruption provides a safer, easier, less expensive, and more accurate method for detecting these injuries. Cardiac evaluation with TTE is unsuccessful in approximately 20% of examinations and is unable to provide the image resolution of the more invasive transesophageal approach.