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Updated: May 21, 2026
04:43
Endotracheal Intubation via Tracheotomy and Subsequent Thoracotomy in Rats for Non-Survival Applications
Published on: March 15, 2024
Emergent pediatric thoracotomy following traumatic arrest
Joshua S Easter1, Deborah T Vinton, Jason S Haukoos
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA. Joshua.Easter@dhha.org
Resuscitation
|June 19, 2012
Summary
Emergent thoracotomy offers a chance of survival for children with traumatic cardiac arrest. Survival is most likely in pediatric cases involving penetrating chest trauma with initial signs of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Critical Care
Background:
- Emergent thoracotomy is a life-saving intervention for adults with traumatic cardiac arrest.
- Its efficacy in pediatric cases remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the survival rate of emergent resuscitative thoracotomy in children.
- To identify factors associated with survival in pediatric trauma patients undergoing this procedure.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing emergent thoracotomy for traumatic cardiac arrest over 15 years.
- Analysis of factors previously linked to adult survival.
Main Results:
- 29 pediatric patients underwent emergent thoracotomy, with 3 (10%) surviving to discharge.
- All survivors had penetrating cardiac trauma and signs of life upon emergency medical services arrival.
- No survivors were recorded among the 13 patients with blunt trauma.
Conclusions:
- Emergent thoracotomy can be life-saving in pediatric traumatic cardiac arrest.
- Success appears highest in penetrating trauma cases with initial signs of life.
- Further research is needed to elucidate survival factors in children.
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