Complications of Emergency Center Thoracotomy.

The article presents an overview of indications for performing emergency center thoracotomy (ECT) and examines some of the most common complications of the procedure. It highlights the need for indications for ECT to include pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of less than 10 minutes' duration for blunt-trauma patients and patients with penetrating trauma to the chest and asystole with evidence of pericardial tamponade. Details of the complications of ECT are outlined.