Bleeding management of thoracic trauma

Thoracic injuries are directly responsible for 20-30% of deaths in severe trauma patients and represent one of the main regions involved in preventable or potentially preventable deaths. Controlling bleeding in thoracic trauma is a major challenge because intrathoracic hemorrhagic lesions can lead to hemodynamic instability and respiratory failure.

The aim of managing intrathoracic hemorrhagic lesions is to control bleeding as quickly as possible and to control any respiratory distress. Extended focus assessment with sonography for trauma enables us to identify intrathoracic bleeding much more quickly and to determine the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.

Thoracic bleeding can result from the diaphragm, intrathoracic vessels (aorta, but also inferior or superior vena cava, and suprahepatic veins), lung, cardiac, or chest wall injuries. Depending on thoracic lesions (such as hemothorax or hemopericardium), hemodynamic instability, and respiratory failure, a pericardial window approach, sternotomy, thoracotomy, or emergency resuscitation thoracotomy may be considered after discussion with the surgeon. Alongside treatment of injuries, managing oxygenation, ventilation, hemodynamic, and coagulopathy are essential for the patient's outcome.