[Classification of combined chest and abdominal wounds]

On the basis of their experience with the treatment of 166 patients with injuries of the chest and abdomen the authors mark out simultaneous thoracoabdominal and abdomino-thoracal wounds. Among thoracoabdominal wounds there are trans- and extrapleural wounds with injuries of the central and peripheral portions of the diaphragm. Abdomino-thoracal wounds may be trans- and extraperitoneal and can penetrate into the pleural, pericardial and mediastinal cavities. This type of associated wounds of the chest and abdomen is most dangerous since in one third of the patients it includes wounds of the heart which are difficult for diagnosis.