• K Dresing, K W Sievers, U Obertacke, B Reicke, and K P Schmit-Neuerburg.
• Abteilung für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
• Zentralbl Chir. 1994 Jan 1;119(10):690-701.

AbstractIn 212 patients after injury of the thorax (54 males, 158 females; penetrating (15), blunt (197), multiple trauma (128)) 158 cases demonstrated rib fractures and 103 radiological proven pneumo- or hematothoraces or sometimes both, 108 of 138 had to be drained. 96.5% of the effusions and 98% of the pneumothoraces were clinical confirmed. 93.5% of 97 pulmonary contusions (79 unilateral, 18 bilateral) were detected by bronchoscopy within 10 h, 72% by x-ray. Caused by anatomical problems or for additional diagnosis 4 patients underwent thoracic CT. During ICU treatment 31 patients developed septic complications without detection in x-ray studies. In CT (n = 64) we found: 5 empyema, 13 pleural effusions, 4 pneumothoraces, 4 pneumocysts, 72 condensations of a lobe. After CT we performed: 9 resections of the lower lobe, 1 pneumectomy, 1 decortication, 7 thoracotomies with drainage, 8 drainages. To detect a septic focus under treatment the CT proved being an important diagnostic tool in chest trauma and lung contusion.

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