[Haemodynamic, gas exchange and lung X-rays in multiple injuries with blunt chest trauma (author's transl)]

In a controlled prospective study of 50 multiple trauma patients special cardio-respiratory monitoring was performed from the moment of admission to the hospital up to seven days. We compared haemodynamic and respiratory data and roentgenograms from 34 patients with blunt thoracic trauma with those of 16 patients without thoracic trauma. The mortality of the thoracic trauma group was higher (56%) than in the control group (19%). Long term intubation was necessary in the first group for an average of 17 days and in the second group for 6.2 days. In the thoracic trauma group there was a higher total pulmonary resistance and a lower cardiac index. Despite mechanical ventilation the pulmonary gas exchange was impaired in the thoracic trauma cases, especially due to an increased shunt fraction. In 16 of the thoracic-trauma patients roentgenograms detected at least temporary pulmonary oedema simultaneously with the increase of shunt fraction and the impairment of pulmonary gas exchange of those patients.