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Purpose: Since 2014, a trauma system (TS) for the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur (PACA) region has been set up with protocols based on the European guidelines for the management of bleeding trauma patients. The present study aims to assess compliance with protocols in penetrating thoracic trauma on admission to a level I trauma centre and to determine whether compliance impacts morbidity and mortality., Methods: This multicentric pre-post study included all penetrating thoracic trauma patients referred to Marseille area level I centres between January 2009 and December 2019. On the basis of the European guidelines, eight objectively measurable recommendations concerning the in-hospital trauma care for the first 24 h were analysed. Per-patient and per-criterion compliance rates and their impact on morbidity and mortality were evaluated before and after TS implementation., Results: A total of 426 patients were included. No differences between the two groups (before and after 2014) were reported for demographics or injury severity. The median (interquartile range) per-patient compliance rate increased from 67% [0.50; 0.75] to 75% [0.67; 1.0] (p < 0.01) after implementation of a TS. The 30-day morbidity-mortality was, respectively, of 17% (30/173) and 13% (32/253) (p = 0.18) before and after TS implementation. A low per-patient compliance rate was associated with an increase in the 30-day morbidity-mortality rate (p < 0.01). Severity score-adjusted per-patient compliance rates were associated with decreased 30-day morbidity-mortality (odds ratio [IC 95%] = 0.98 [0.97; 0.99] p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Implementation of a TS was associated with better compliance to European recommendations and better outcomes for severe trauma patients. These findings should encourage strict adherence to European trauma protocols to ensure the best patient outcomes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Background: The management of penetrating thoracic injuries in moribund or unstable patients is clearly described in contrast to that of stable patients, particularly for those with a cardiac box injury. This anatomic location suggests a potentially lethal cardiac injury and requires urgent therapeutic decision making. The present study aims at determining when surgical exploration is beneficial for stable patients presenting with penetrating cardiac box injuries (PCBIs)., Methods: This was a retrospective study of stable civilian patients with PCBI referred to level I trauma centers in the Marseille area between January 2009 and December 2019. Using post hoc analysis of the management outcomes, patients whose surgery was considered therapeutic (group A) were compared with those whose surgery was considered nontherapeutic and with nonoperated patients (group B)., Results: A total of 155 patients with PCBI were included, with 88% (n = 137) of stab wound injuries. Overall, surgical exploration was performed in 54% (n = 83), considered therapeutic in 71% (n = 59), and performed by video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery in 42% (n = 35) with a conversion rates of 14% (n = 5). Initial extended fast assessment with sonography for trauma revealed the presence of hemopericardium in 29% (n = 29) in group A versus 9.5% (n = 7) in group B, p = 0.010, and was associated with a negative predictive value of 93% regarding the presence of a cardiac injury. Chest tube flow was significantly higher in patients who required surgery, with a median (interquartile range) of 600.00 (350.00-1200.00) mL versus 300.0 (150.00-400.00) mL ( p = 0.001)., Conclusion: Extended fast assessment with sonography for trauma and chest tube flow are the cornerstones of the management of stable PCBI. Video-assisted thoracoscopy represents an interesting approach to check intrathoracic wounds while minimizing surgical morbidity., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study reports the challenges faced by French military surgeons in the management of thoracic injury during the latest Afghanistan war., Methods: From January 2009 to April 2013, all of the civilian, French and Coalition casualties admitted to French NATO Combat Support Hospital situated on Kabul were prospectively recorded in the French Military Health Service Registry (OPEX(®)). Only penetrating and blunt thoracic trauma patients were retrospectively included., Results: Eighty-nine casualties were included who were mainly civilian (61%) and men (94%) with a mean age of 27.9 years old. Surgeons dealt with polytraumas (78%), severe injuries (mean Injury Severity Score=39.2) and penetrating wounds (96%) due to explosion in 37%, gunshot in 53% and stabbing in 9%. Most of casualties were first observed or drained (n=56). In this non-operative group more than 40% of casualties needed further actions. In the operative group, Damage Control Thoracotomy (n=22) was performed to stop ongoing bleeding and air leakage and Emergency Department Thoracotomy (n=11) for agonal patient. Casualties suffered from hemothorax (60%), pneumothorax (39%), diaphragmatic (37%), lung (35%), heart or great vessels (20%) injuries. The main actions were diaphragmatic sutures (n=25), lung resections (wedge n=6, lobectomy n=4) and haemostasis (intercostal artery ligation n=3, heart injury repairs n=5, great vessels injury repairs n=5). Overall mortality was 11%. The rate of subsequent surgery was 34%., Conclusions: The analysis of the OPEX(®) registry reflects the thoracic surgical challenges of general (visceral) surgeons serving in combat environment during the latest Afghanistan War., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This review aims to answer the most common questions in routine surgical practice during the first 48 h of blunt chest trauma (BCT) management. Two authors identified relevant manuscripts published since January 1994 to January 2014. Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement, they focused on the surgical management of BCT, excluded both child and vascular injuries and selected 80 studies. Tension pneumothorax should be promptly diagnosed and treated by needle decompression closely followed with chest tube insertion (Grade D). All traumatic pneumothoraces are considered for chest tube insertion. However, observation is possible for selected patients with small unilateral pneumothoraces without respiratory disease or need for positive pressure ventilation (Grade C). Symptomatic traumatic haemothoraces or haemothoraces >500 ml should be treated by chest tube insertion (Grade D). Occult pneumothoraces and occult haemothoraces are managed by observation with daily chest X-rays (Grades B and C). Periprocedural antibiotics are used to prevent chest-tube-related infectious complications (Grade B). No sign of life at the initial assessment and cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration >10 min are considered as contraindications of Emergency Department Thoracotomy (Grade C). Damage Control Thoracotomy is performed for either massive air leakage or refractive shock or ongoing bleeding enhanced by chest tube output >1500 ml initially or >200 ml/h for 3 h (Grade D). In the case of haemodynamically stable patients, early video-assisted thoracic surgery is performed for retained haemothoraces (Grade B). Fixation of flail chest can be considered if mechanical ventilation for 48 h is probably required (Grade B). Fixation of sternal fractures is performed for displaced fractures with overlap or comminution, intractable pain or respiratory insufficiency (Grade D). Lung herniation, traumatic diaphragmatic rupture and pericardial rupture are life-threatening situations requiring prompt diagnosis and surgical advice. (Grades C and D). Tracheobronchial repair is mandatory in cases of tracheal tear >2 cm, oesophageal prolapse, mediastinitis or massive air leakage (Grade C). These evidence-based surgical indications for BCT management should support protocols for chest trauma management., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)