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Show Notes
Author: Aaron Lessen M.D.
Educational Pearls:
- Thoracotomy is a potentially life-saving procedure. However, outcomes are often poor and the procedure itself poses many risks to provider and patient.
- Chance of surviving a thoracotomy when there is no cardiac activity on ultrasound is 0%.
- Performing a thoracotomy is unlikely to benefit patients with no cardiac activity on ultrasound or patients that lost vital signs greater than 10 minutes before starting the procedure.
- A thoracotomy is maximally beneficial in patients with a penetrating chest injury that occurred less than 10 minutes before the procedure.