Minerva chirurgica
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A group of 191 cases of emergency tube thoracostomy for acute trauma reviewed retrospectively from March 1993 to March 1998 is reported. Of this group 169 were men and 22 were women. Their ages ranged from 16 to 73 years. ⋯ Five infections of thoracostomy site and 1 empyema resolved by rethoracotomy were observed. Moreover, there were 3 complications: 2 subcutaneous placements and 1 little laceration of the lung. Thirty-one drained patients were operated: in 5 cases thoracotomy and laparotomy (2 exitus in tabula); only thoracotomy in 8 cases; 19 laparotomy and thoracostomy (1 exitus in tabula).