Citation

Fullum TM, Siram SM, Righini M. J. Natl. Med. Assoc. 1990; 82(2): 109-112.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC 20060.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, National Medical Association (USA))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2304100

PMCID

PMC2625943

Abstract

In a retrospective review of 100 consecutive cases of stab wounds to the chest, 44 patients were successfully treated with tube thoracostomy, 14 patients required thoracotomy, 17 patients with small pneumothoraces were observed, and 25 patients were asymptomatic. The overall mortality was 4%, operative mortality was 7.1%, and the mortality rate for cardiac injuries was 50%. Of the eight patients with cardiac injuries, three were dead on arrival to the hospital and one patient died in the operating room. Patients treated with tube thoracostomy had a shorter hospital stay than patients managed by observation alone. Our findings support the opinion that asymptomatic patients (normal chest x-rays) may be discharged after 24 hours of observation and asymptomatic patients with nonprogressive small pneumothoraces (less than 20%) not requiring a chest tube may be discharged after 48 hours of observation. All patients should have close outpatient follow-up.

Language: en