Therapeutic efficacy for traumatic asphyxia with a focus on cardiac arrest

To investigate the clinical features of traumatic asphyxia, specifically the presence of cardiac arrest and therapeutic efficacy. This review will be useful for future emergencies.

Sixteen traumatic asphyxia cases from our hospital between April 2007 and March 2019 were reviewed and divided into three groups: those experiencing cardiac arrest at the time of rescue (group A, six cases), those experiencing cardiac arrest after rescue (group B, five cases), and those who did not experience cardiac arrest (group C, five cases).

All cases had abnormal findings in the skin or conjunctiva. The total mortality rate reached 56%. Among the 11 cases in groups A and B that resulted in cardiac arrest, 10 had an Injury Severity Score of 16 or higher and an Abbreviated Injury Scale score in the chest of 3 or higher. The patients' injuries included pneumothorax, flail chest, and pericardial hematoma. The heartbeat was restarted in seven cases, and two cases completely recovered.

In some traumatic asphyxia cases, the treatment course was relatively effective even with cardiac arrest; thus, life support efforts should not be spared in such cases.