RESUMO
In the one-year prospective study 71 injured patients were observed (75% male and 25% female). Traffic traumatism was the dominant case (45%). The wounded are divided in the groups with one side fracture of ribs (left/right) and on both sides fracture of ribs considering the side of fracture, and there is consideration about the kind of fracture--there are single fracture of ribs and serial fracture of ribs. The samples of artery blood were followed in PaCO2, %SaO2 and level pH in three points of time: when the patients came, after 24 and after 48 hours. In the group with the both side fracture of the ribs, the fall of worth pH was observed after 48 hours, PaCO2 is increasing to the 6.98 kPa. PaO2 is falling after 48 hours. In %SaO2 there is no considerable difference at any time, but%SaO2 is the highest in the second group. With the serial fracture of ribs wounded are considerate the fall of worth pH which is progressively increasing and is the highest after 48 hours. PaCO2 is increasing in the both groups, but with the serial fracture the worth are considerably higher. PaO2 and %SaO2 are much lower after 48 hours. The authors conclude that the wounded on both sides and wounded with serial fracture along one or several lines of with fracture of all ribs suffer the highest respiratory insufficiency (ARI), so they need artificial ventilation as respiratory support.