Penetrating wounds to the anterior chest. Analysis of thoracotomy and laparotomy.

This study of the records of 193 consecutive patients admitted for penetrating anterior chest wounds was carried out to specifically define the need for emergent thoracotomy or laparotomy. The mechanism of injury was a stab wound in 119 patients and a gunshot wound in 74 patients. Seventy-three of the patients (38 percent) required either early thoracotomy (21 percent) or laparotomy (17 percent). In the upper chest region, 83 percent of the operations were thoracotomies, whereas in the lower chest region, 81 percent were laparotomies. Pericardial tamponade, chest tube output, and hypovolemic shock comprised 91 percent of the decisive signs for thoracotomy. The predominant reason for laparotomy was diagnostic peritoneal lavage (63 percent of patients). Plain abdominal roentgenograms were helpful to confirm diaphragmatic missile traverse. Our findings support selective operative management of anterior chest wounds as guided by injury mechanism and entrance location.