Emergency Resuscitative Thoracotomy in the Combat or Operational Environment. (5th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monchal, Tristan; Martin, Matthew J; Antevil, Jared L; Bennett, Donald R; DeVries, William C; Zakaluzny, Scott; Ricca, Robert L; Tien, Homer; Mullenix, Philip S; Stockinger, Zsolt T
• Is Part Of: Military medicine. Volume 183(2018)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2018-09-05
• Subjects: resuscitative thoracotomy, ERT -- trauma -- emergency department thoracotomy -- thoracic injury -- emergency resuscitation; Surgery, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Periodicals; Surgery, Military -- Periodicals; Medicine, Military; Surgery, Military; Military Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.98023
• DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usy117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4075

Abstract

Abstract: Resuscitative thoracotomy has been extensively described in the civilian trauma literature and has a high mortality rate, due largely to the nature of the injuries leading to arrest. The survival rates are generally highest (10–30%) for penetrating truncal injuries and patients who arrive with vital signs and proceed to arrest or who have impending arrest. They are significantly lower (less than 5%) for blunt trauma victims, particularly those who arrest in the field or during transport (1% or less). In addition, the likelihood of survival with intact neurologic function is significantly lower than the overall survival rates, particularly for blunt trauma victims and for prehospital arrest.