A Descriptive Study of Patients with Blunt Trauma Chest, Its Management and Outcome
Atish N. Bansod *
Department of General Surgery, IGGMCH, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Zip Code 440018, India.
Abhijit M. Wankhede
Department of General Surgery, IGGMCH, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Zip Code 440018, India.
Vaishnavpriya K. Jadhav
Department of General Surgery, IGGMCH, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Zip Code 440018, India.
Kathan M. Kothari
Department of General Surgery, IGGMCH, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Zip Code 440018, India.
Rohan Umalkar
Department of General Surgery, IGGMCH, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Zip Code 440018, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims and Objective: This study assessed the clinical profile, management, polytrauma incidence, and outcome of 64 cases of blunt trauma chest at a tertiary care centre.
Study Design: Prospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of general surgery, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India between June 2020 to Nov 2022.
Materials and Methods: Data were collected on patients admitted with blunt trauma chests. Demographics, symptoms, signs, management modalities, and treatment outcomes were recorded.
Results: Vehicular accidents caused 48.4% of cases, with a mean age of 42.4 years and an M: F ratio of 6.1:1. Chest pain and tenderness were common presenting symptoms and signs. Conservative management was used in 45.3% of cases, tube thoracostomy in 54.7%, thoracotomy in 3.1%, and exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy in 1.6%.
Conclusion: Blunt chest trauma usually caused by vehicular accidents. It can be managed with thoracostomy or conservative methods depending on the clinical presentation and severity.
Keywords: Chest trauma, pneumothorax, thoracostomy, haemothorax