Sharp thoracic injury

In an effort to develop effective rules for the management of penetrating thoracic injuries, all records of 515 patients treated for sharp chest injuries between 1961 and 1985 at the University Hospitals of Amsterdam (Binnengasthuis, Wilhelmina Gasthuis and Academic Medical Centre), were reviewed. The analysis reveals that of these patients 321 (62 per cent) could be treated conservatively, because of a non-penetrating injury, while 140 had a penetrating injury, of whom 77 had to be operated on. Eleven patients died (2.1 per cent). Data concerning these patients are discussed separately. Based on our analysis, and supported by recent literature, an aggressive approach towards penetrating thoracic injury in haemodynamically unstable patients is justified.