ABSTRACT

Blunt Pulmonary Trauma B lun t chest trau m a m ay result in life -th rea ten ing in juries th a t require im m edia te

recognition an d trea tm ent. These injuries include tension p neum othorax , open p n eu ­ m othorax , massive h em o th o rax an d flail chest. T h e m ajo rity o f o th er lu n g injuries, such as p u lm o n ary co n tus ion , sim ple p n eu m o th o rax an d sim ple hem o th o rax m ay be trea ted expectantly o r w ith tu b e thoracostom y. T h e decision to in tervene w ith endotracheal in tu b a tio n o r th o raco to m y depends on astu te clinical ju d g m en t.