@article{ref1,
title="Thoracic compartment syndrome after penetrating heart and lung injury",
journal="GMS Interdisciplinary plastic and reconstructive surgery DGPW",
year="2019",
author="Rupprecht, Holger and Dormann, Harald and Gaab, Katharina",
volume="8",
number="",
pages="Doc07-Doc07",
abstract="Thoracic injuries are the most lethal penetrating injuries. After attempting suicide, two patients with a penetrating thoracic wound were admitted to our emergency department. During CT scan they became hemodynamically unstable, which is why we had to perform an emergency thoracotomy. In both cases, a perforation in the left ventricle as well as multiple lesions of the lung parenchyma and vessel injuries were found. After the treatment of the different injuries, a massive edema of the heart and lung prevented a primary closure of the thorax. Due to massive diffuse bleeding, a &quot;packing&quot; of the pleural cavity became necessary. To prevent a thoracic compartment syndrome, the thoracic wall was left open and the skin was closed with a plastic sheet. Due to the &quot;open chest&quot; procedure combined with &quot;packing&quot; of the thoracic cavity, the majority of patients with an edema of the heart and lung after a penetrating chest injury can be saved. Pitfalls of preclinical and clinical treatment, aspects of diagnostics and surgery are discussed.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2193-8091",
doi="10.3205/iprs000133",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3205/iprs000133"
}