Changing Indications for Thoracotomy in Blunt Chest Trauma after the Advent of Videothoracoscopy

Abstract

Videothoracoscopy has reduced the number of thoracotomies performed. Thoracotomy can be limited to massive bleeding with hemodynamic instability, major air leak, radiologic evidence of mediastinal enlargement or diaphragmatic rupture, or major anterolateral flail chest.