ABSTRACT
Cardiothoracic trauma includes injury to the chest wall, trachea, bronchus, lungs, pleura, heart, thoracic great vessels, diaphragm, and esophagus. Because victims of cardiothoracic trauma may have multiple life-threatening injuries, perioperative management of these patients is challenging. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an up-to-date review of the resuscitative management and intraoperative care of patients with cardiothoracic trauma. After discussing the incidence, pathophysiology, and perioperative assessment, the anesthetic considerations for cardiothoracic trauma are explored, including the techniques for lung separation and monitoring requirements. This chapter is complimentary to Volume 2, Chapter 25 which covers the postoperative and critical care management of these injuries.
