Original article
English
Mustafa A H Elburjo, Ibn-Alwaleed Elmesmary
Department of thoracic surgery Medical Faculty, Garyounis University Benghazi, Libya
Garyounis Medical Journal Vol. 22, No.2. 2005:64-68
Abstract
Background: Thoracic injuries cause a significant number of problems to the patients because of the life- threatening situation and the medial staff regarding the management. The management depends most of the time on a clinical diagnosis without sophisticated investigations.
Objective: To study the causes of trauma and their management in our area.
Methods: Retrospective study of 1 311 patients managed at Aljala hospital, Benghazi. Libya in the period between I 996and 2001.
Results: There were nine mortalities There were only 32 females (0.15%).The most affected age group is 11-40 years of age (88.8%). Penetrating trauma was found in 622 patients (47.44%) mainly stab sounds (45%).Nonpenetrating trauma was found in 689 patients (52.55%). In both types of trauma the following injuries were encountered: pneumothorax in 363 patients (27.8%). hemothorax in 206 (15.7%). hemopneumothorax in 157 (11.9%). simple rib fractures in a 144 (11%). cardiac injuries in 32 (2.44%). flail chest in 28 patients (2.1%) diaphragmatic injuries in 13 (1.6%). fracture clavicles in 15 (1.1%) and sternal injuries in four (.3%). Acute thoracotomy performed in (8.62%).Acute laporatomy performed in (2.2%) of patients.
Qonservatise management carried out in 89.24% mainly by chest tube. Few patients need no intervention what so ever. All given IV amoxicillin clavulinate and gentimicin. Infection rate vas loss as it occurred in only three patients (one wound infection. two empyema).
Conclusions: thoracic injuries pose a real problem when associated injuries are present. sophisticated investigations are not needed in the immediate period because they are time consuming and most of the time are not available Most chest injuries need only’ ‘simple life support and experience with chest tube insertion as this is the most needed immediate intervention.
Keywords: Chest, trauma, penetrating injury. hemothorax. stab wounds.
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