The American surgeon
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Over a 7-year period, 9443 trauma patients were evaluated with 2934 (31%) sustaining chest trauma. Of these, 347 (12%) patients required thoracotomy, with 12 patients undergoing emergency lung resection. Mean age was 23.1 years with mean Injury Severity Score of 32. ⋯ Overall mortality was 33 per cent: 20 per cent for non-anatomical lung resection, 33 per cent for lobectomy, and 50 per cent for pneumonectomy. All survivors fully recovered except for one patient with an associated head injury. Our experience supports the selective use of lung resection, including pneumonectomy, to immediately control hemorrhage and to impact survival in severe chest trauma.