OBJECTIVE Thoracic injuries are among the most severe forms of trauma and also a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) has recently provided an alternative method to simultaneously diagnose and manage patients sustaining chest injuries. We analyze our experience with VATS in the setting of thoracic trauma detailing indications for exploration, procedur...

In polytrauma patients a thoracic trauma is one of the most critical injuries and an important trigger of post-traumatic inflammation. About 50% of patients with thoracic trauma are additionally affected by bone fractures. The risk for fracture malunion is considerably increased in such patients, the pathomechanisms being poorly understood. Thoracic trauma causes regional alveolar hypoxia and, ...

Background Thoracic injury directly accounts for 25% of the deaths due to trauma, and is a contributing factor in another 25% of trauma related deaths. As the role of thoracoscopy continues to expand in the practice of thoracic surgery, its role in the management of the trauma patients is also expanding. Objective of the study was to determine the role of emergency VATS in the management of blu...

INTRODUCTION Thoracic injury during warfare is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. This study examines the pattern and mortality of thoracic wounding in the counter-insurgency conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan, and outlines the operative and decision making skills required by the modern military surgeon in the deployed hospital setting to manage these injuries. METHOD...