[Thoracic injuries and resuscitation. Case reports and critical review]

A series of 68 chest injuries treated at the Resuscitation and Intensive Care Unit. S. Orsola Policlinic, Bologna, between May 1967 and December 1973 is presented. Treatment was given by the staff of the anaesthesia and resuscitation service and the chest surgery section, 2nd Surgical Clinic, University of Bologna. The types of case observed and the treatment methods employed are bierfly explained, together with the clinical and statistical data. Emphasis is laid on the relation between clinical course and blood gas values. The value of tracheostomy and protracted intubation is discussed, together with the utility of antalgic and psychosedative management. The increased frequency of bronchopneumonic complications is noted. Encouraging results obtained by surgical stabilisation of movable flaps by means of Kirschner wires are reported. While this method admittedly requires thoracotomy, this in itself has the advantage of enabling existing pleural and pulmonary lesions to be repaired.