[Primary treatment of chest injuries in polytrauma]

Lung damage in the wake of thorax trauma has often occurred with delay. Treatment of such cases is difficult, and pulmonary failure has often been the result. Extended shock phase due to haemato-pneumothorax is one of the causes involved in this type of complication. Surgical treatment is often necessary of abdominal and thoracic injuries which occur in combination. The severity of haemorrhagic shock can be detected by early drainage of the thorax as a way of lung relief, and it will provide some safety for prolonged diagnostic and therapeutic action and for situations of obstruction. The lung can thus be more effectively protected. Hence, some generosity should be exercised in deciding primary thorax drainage for patients with multiple injuries, with suspicion of polytraumatisation, unconsciousness, and with artificial respiration.