Penetrating Wounds of the Chest

¹ The Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

1. One hundred and one penetrating and perforating chest wounds seen in civilian practice since 1952 have been reviewed and factors common to the management of the acute phases and complications of these problems have been discussed.

2. Aspiration of hemothorax is preferable to catheter drainage.

3. In pneumothorax, the lung may be expanded by thoracentesis; however, in case of persistent air leak shown by increase in pneumothorax, progression of subcutaneous emphysema or by tension pneumothorax catheter drainage is used.

4. Of the 101 cases treated 36 did not require surgical procedure except the local care of the wound, antibiotics and tetanus immunization. Fiftyone required drainage by thoracentesis. Catheter drainage was used in 17 cases. Eight required thoracotomy including three decortications. Laparotomy was performed in eight cases.