[The Patient with Chest Trauma: Surgical Management].

Even though isolated cases of penetrating chest wounds are exceptionally rare in Germany, chest trauma accounts for major morbidity and mortality in over 18 0000 multitrauma patients encountered every year. Injuries range from immediately fatal cardiac wounds and major vessel lacerations to intercostal bleeding, parenchymal damage, chronic haematothorax and secondary empyema. Placement of large-bore chest tubes constitutes a sufficient treatment for most of these pathologies. In select cases further treatment either by minimally invasive techniques (VATS) or conventional thoracotomy is warranted.
Competing Interests: Interessenkonflikt: Die Autoren erklären, dass kein Interessenkonflikt vorliegt.
(Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)