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Abstract

Background: One of the most frequent injuries in the emergency room is thoracic trauma. They range from penetrating chest injuries to blunt chest injuries. To improve the prognosis, quick medical and surgical measures are required. The present study was conducted to evaluate the pattern of thoracic trauma presenting to the emergency room, its outcome, and the risk factors contributing to it.
Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out at the Department of General Surgery / Thoracic Surgery Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from January 2020 to January 2021. A total of 60 patients with thoracic trauma were included in the study. The mean ISS score was 38. Age, concomitant diseases, presence of pneumothorax and/or hemothorax, the need for mechanical support, length of stay, and deaths were evaluated by using the t-test and x2 test where appropriate.
Results:  There were 35 (58.3%) patients with blunt traumas and 25 (41.7%) patients with penetrating traumas. Among penetrating trauma, the most common injury was gunshot 12 (48%), followed by stab wounds 8 (32%), and occupational injuries 5 (20%). Among blunt traumas, road traffic accidents RTAs 20 (57.1%) were frequently identified, followed by falls from height 9 (25.7%), assault 4 (11.4%), and occupational injuries 2 (5.7%). Mechanical ventilation was needed in 17 (28.3%) patients, diagnosis at the time of admission was, hemothorax 22 (36.7%), rib fractures were seen in 16 (26.7%), 12 (20%) patients with abdominal injuries, and 10 (16.7%) with a head injury.
Conclusions: Age and hemopneumothorax did not affect mortality. Mechanical support was not considered a necessity for the treatment of thoracic trauma patients.