Prevalence and Survival Rate of Trauma Patients who Underwent Resuscitative Thoracotomy in a Level One Trauma Center...

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and survival rate of trauma patients who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) in a level I trauma center in southern Iran.

This cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at Rajaee Hospital (Shiraz, Iran) from March 2018 to October 2022, included trauma patients who underwent RT surgery. Demographic information, vital signs at arrival, mechanism of injury, type of trauma, admission and discharge dates, length of hospital stay, blood transfusions, associated injuries, and clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software.

A total of 147 trauma patients underwent RT. The patients' mean age was 39±18.49 years. The majority of participants were men (82.40%). The most prevalent type of damage was blunt trauma, with a survival rate of 3%, followed by penetrating trauma, which had a 20% survival rate. The leading cause of trauma-related fatalities was road traffic accidents (78.9%). The majority of RT procedures (75.5%) took place in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rooms. The survival group had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels than the non-survival (83.0±34.96 vs. 97.83±33.10) and (40.75±20.91 vs. 62.48±25.36), respectively. Survivors exhibited a significantly higher Glasgow Coma Scale than non-survivors (8.40±6.14 vs. 4.75±3.84).

The study revealed a low survival rate among trauma patients undergoing RT. Blunt chest trauma emerged as an independent predictor of poor outcomes. Future studies should further explore indications and outcomes of RT to better inform clinical practice.