BACKGROUND: Our objective is to study thoracic trauma cases treated in a public hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study of 168 cases of thoracic trauma, enphasizing the initial approach, surgical and postoperative care. RESULTS: Of 168 patients, 120 were males with an avarage age of 35.5 years. Ten patients underwent thoracotomy as an emergency procedure: four heart wounds, four lung vessels lesions, one pericardial sac injury and one lesion of the lung hilum. The others had their clinical conditions resolved through thoracic drainage. There were two non surgical deaths and one death due to breathing failure. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic trauma is still frequent, and the majority of cases are simple. On the othem hand some will require surgical skill and a high level support Hospital.
Trauma; Thoracic injuries; Thorax; Postoperative care
