[Thoracotomies in thoracic injuries--indications and results].

Most thoracic injuries can be treated adequately with intensive care, pleural drainage and judicious physiotherapy. From the total of 571 patients with severe thoracic injuries treated in the Surgical Department of the University of Cologne over the last 10 years, 14% of those with blunt trauma (BT) and 33% with penetrating trauma (PT) underwent thoracotomy. Thoracotomy for PT was usually performed earlier and gave better results than thoracotomy for BT. With one exception, all PT underwent thoracotomy in the first 24 h after admission. For thoracotomy carried out for BT however, 38% took place after 24 h and 21% after 5 days. Postoperative mortality for BT was 3 times higher than for PT (56% vs. 18%). Reasons for this are to be found in the severe thoracic and general injuries associated with BT. The surgical procedure will depend on the type and extent of the thoracic and general injuries and on the general condition of the patient.