Penetrating chest trauma: a review of 150 cases

Penetrating injuries of the chest with emphasis on the policy of selective management in 150 cases, 145 males and 5 females, with age ranging from 5-60 years were reviewed. Chest pain and breathlessness were the commonest presenting features. Haemorrhagic shock and haemoptysis were noted in 30% and 20% cases respectively. Fire arms injury was the leading cause of chest trauma, being present in 80 (53.33%) cases. Except for 6 (3 cases had superficial stab wounds and 3 died on way to operation theatre), all patients (144) needed surgical intervention (tube thoracostomy drainage in 110 and major operation in 34 patients). There were 7 deaths in this study; massive haemorrhage was the cause of death in 4 and septic shock in 3 cases. An overall success rate of 95.34% was observed in this series.