ABSTRACT
In high-income countries (HICs), death in trauma patients has a trimodal distribution death at the scene or in the first hour (50%), death in the next 1-4 hours (30%), and late death (20%). Thoracic trauma is a significant cause of immediate and delayed patient mortality. In contrast, in the developing world, with limited emergency medical services and prolonged transport times from injury to care, significant thoracic injuries may lead to even more early deaths with late deaths becoming more unusual. Life-threatening thoracic injuries that must be recognized and addressed immediately include airway loss or obstruction, tension pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, pericardial tamponade, and great vessel injury. The goal of this chapter is to teach the nonthoracic surgeon “pattern recognition” and “simple procedures” to convert urgent, life-threatening situations into salvageable and stable conditions with minimal resources and training.
