[Initial resuscitation of closed thoracic trauma]

Blunt thoracic trauma are frequent and often severe. Their management is improved in the prehospital settings by the involvement of a medical team, and the admission in a specialized trauma center. Diagnostic and therapeutic steps are closely linked. They are based on the stabilization of life threatening problems and the appropriate use of recent advances in medical imaging. Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are indicated for respiratory distress. Immediate surgical management is mandatory for an hypovolemic shock related to massive hemothorax. On the contrary, multiple ribs fractures and flail chest without major pulmonary contusion are managed with regional analgesia allowing effective physiotherapy and avoiding the infectious complications related to prolonged mechanical ventilation.