Performance and outcome of ressucitative thoracotomies in a southern Brazil trauma center: a 7-year retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: the study aims to analyze the performance and outcome of resuscitation thoracotomy (TR) performed in patients victims of penetrating and blunt trauma in a trauma center in southern Brazil during a 7 years period. METHODS: retrospective study based on the analysis of medical records of patients undergoing TR, from 2014 to 2020, in the emergency service of the Hospital do Trabalhador, Curitiba - Paraná, Brazil. RESULTS: a total of 46 TR were performed during the study period, of which 89.1% were male. The mean age of patients undergoing TR was 34.1±12.94 years (range 16 and 69 years). Penetrating trauma corresponded to the majority of indications with 80.4%, of these 86.5% victims of gunshot wounds and 13.5% victims of knife wounds. On the other hand, only 19.6% undergoing TR were victims of blunt trauma. Regarding the outcome variables, 84.78% of the patients had declared deaths during the procedure, considered non-responders. 15.22% of patients survived after the procedure. 4.35% of patients undergoing TR were discharged from the hospital, 50% of which were victims of blunt trauma. CONCLUSION: the data obtained in our study are in accordance with the world literature, reinforcing the need for a continuous effort to perform TR, respecting its indications and limitations in patients victims of severe penetrating or blunt trauma.

Performance and outcome of ressucitative thoracotomies in a southern Brazil trauma center: a 7-year retrospective analysis / Desempenho e desfecho das toracotomias de reanimação realizadas em centro de trauma sul-brasileiro: análise retrospectiva de 7 anos

ABSTRACT Objective: the study aims to analyze the performance and outcome of resuscitation thoracotomy (TR) performed in patients victims of penetrating and blunt trauma in a trauma center in southern Brazil during a 7 years period. Methods: retrospective study based on the analysis of medical records of patients undergoing TR, from 2014 to 2020, in the emergency service of the Hospital do Trabalhador, Curitiba - Paraná, Brazil. Results: a total of 46 TR were performed during the study period, of which 89.1% were male. The mean age of patients undergoing TR was 34.1±12.94 years (range 16 and 69 years). Penetrating trauma corresponded to the majority of indications with 80.4%, of these 86.5% victims of gunshot wounds and 13.5% victims of knife wounds. On the other hand, only 19.6% undergoing TR were victims of blunt trauma. Regarding the outcome variables, 84.78% of the patients had declared deaths during the procedure, considered non-responders. 15.22% of patients survived after the procedure. 4.35% of patients undergoing TR were discharged from the hospital, 50% of which were victims of blunt trauma. Conclusion: the data obtained in our study are in accordance with the world literature, reinforcing the need for a continuous effort to perform TR, respecting its indications and limitations in patients victims of severe penetrating or blunt trauma.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o desempenho e o desfecho das toracotomias de reanimação (TR) realizadas nos pacientes vítimas de trauma penetrante e contuso em um hospital de referência em trauma no Sul do Brasil durante um período de sete anos. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo baseado na análise de prontuários de pacientes submetidos a TR, no período de 2014 a 2020, no serviço de emergência do Hospital do Trabalhador, Curitiba - Paraná, Brasil. Resultados: um total de 46 TR foram realizadas durante o período de estudo, dos quais 89.1% eram do sexo masculino. A média de idade dos pacientes submetidos a TR foi de 34.1±12.94 anos (variação de 16 e 69 anos). O trauma penetrante correspondeu pela maioria das indicações de TR com 80.4%, destas 86.5% vítimas de ferimentos por arma de fogo e 13.5% vítimas de ferimento por arma branca. Por outro lado, apenas 19.6% submetidos a TR foram vítimas de trauma contuso. No que se refere as variáveis de desfecho, 84.78% dos pacientes tiveram óbitos declarados durante o procedimento, considerados não respondedores. 15.22% dos pacientes apresentaram sobrevida após o procedimento. 4.35% dos pacientes submetidos à TR tiveram alta hospitalar, sendo 50% pacientes vítimas de trauma contuso. Conclusão: os dados obtidos em nosso estudo estão em conformidade com a literatura mundial, reforçando a necessidade de um esforço contínuo para realização da TR respeitando suas indicações e limitações em pacientes vítimas de trauma grave penetrante ou contuso.