Prehospital first aid of 1162 cases of severe thoracic trauma

LIU Chao-pu; CAI Ping-jun; CHEN Feng; HE Ping

Abstract：Objective To summarize the experiences of prehospital first aid in patients with severe thoracic trauma and to improve the skills of prehospital first aid. Methods A total of 1162 patients with severe thoracic trauma (AIS≥3) in Chongqing Emergency Medical Center from Jan.2009 to Dec.2014 were retrospectively ana-lyzed in respect of the injury severity of chest,methods of prehospital first aid,hospital treatment and outcome,etc. Among those patients 827 were male and 335 were female. The average age was ( 45.3 ±10.8 ) years ( 13-98 years) .Results Airway foreign bodies were removed in 31 patients.Intubation and ventilation were performed in 41 patients.Emergency tracheotomy was carried out in 23 patients and 25 patients with tension pneumothorax were decompressed by a needle or tube thoracostomy. Forty three patients with paradoxical respiratory movement were corrected by rib sunpension traction or positive-pressure ventilation.151 patients with open chest wounds were closed by medical dressing.Sixteen patients with cardiac arrest underwent unarmed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. No special measures were taken in 735 patients.Twenty-nine patients died.Conclusion Quick and accurate as-sessment,skilled and proper rescue are keys for severe thoracic trauma patients in demand of first aid and earn chance and time for further treatment in hospital.