Rationale for selective application of Emergency Department thoracotomy in trauma

The indiscriminate application of thoracotomy in the resuscitation of trauma has recently been challenged. Since 1 May 1974 400 consecutive trauma patients have undergone resuscitative thoracotomy in our Emergency Departments (ED). The mechanism of injury was blunt in 195 (49%) patients, gunshot wound in 147 (37%), and stab wound in 58 (14%) Upon arrival in the ED, 352 (88%) patients had no obtainable blood pressure (BP), 334 (84%), fixed pupils, and 315 (798%) failed to exhibit agonal respirations or other waning signs of life. One hundred six (27%) patients reached the operating room and 28 (7%) survived to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Sixteen were eventually discharged from the hospital, but four of these survivors had sustained irreversible cerebral damage. Overall, 12 of 400 (3%) patients survived ED thoracotomy with intact neurologic function. Four factors appeared predictive of poor prognosis. There were no survivors with intact neurologic function among: 150 patients sustaining blunt trauma and arriving in the ED without signs of life (BP, pupil reactivity, respiratory effort); or 87 patients with penetrating torso injuries who had no signs of life at the scene. Following thoracotomy, in the absence of cardiac tamponade, there were no intact survivors of 124 patients without cardiac activity or of aortic occlusion. We believe the above factors should militate against initiating resuscitative thoracotomy in the ED or in deciding to continue heroic measures following thoracotomy.