Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Emergency department thoracotomy remains a formidable tool within the trauma surgeon's armamentarium. Since its introduction during the 1960s, the use of this procedure has ranged from sparing to liberal. In many urban trauma centers this procedure has found a niche as part of the resuscitative process because of the great improvements in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems, allowing many patients to arrive in either impending or full cardiopulmonary arrest.
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Outcomes Working Group (Sat,) studied this question.