[Lung injuries: diagnosis and surgical strategy]

Between 50 to 60% of all polytraumatized patients have a thoracic injury with a mortality of 30 to 60%. The first diagnostic steps involving symptoms such as in- or expiratory pain, emphysema of the skin, flail chest or sipping noise lead via clinical examination to first and often definitive therapeutic procedures, i.e. intubation, artificial respiration and insertion of chest tube. X-ray of the chest, computed tomography as well as ultrasonic screening and monitoring of arterial blood gases are important in in-door technical diagnosis. The decision for emergency room thoracotomy or a regular or delayed operation has to be made at times. Complications (20%) to consider are pneumo- and haematothorax, pleural rind, pneumonia, broncho-pleural fistula and most of all pleural empyema.