Emergency Resuscitative Thoracotomy in the Combat or Operational Environment

Abstract

Resuscitative thoracotomy has been extensively described in the civilian trauma literature and has a high mortality rate, due largely to the nature of the injuries leading to arrest. The survival rates are generally highest (10-30%) for penetrating truncal injuries and patients who arrive with vital signs and proceed to arrest or who have impending arrest. They are significantly lower (less than 5%) for blunt trauma victims, particularly those who arrest in the field or during transport (1% or less). In addition, the likelihood of survival with intact neurologic function is significantly lower than the overall survival rates, particularly for blunt trauma victims and for prehospital arrest.