Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Emergency thoracotomy is a dramatic and controversial intervention which may be life saving after major torso trauma. Success rates are variable and differ widely according to mechanism of injury. This article outlines the current indications and contraindications to emergency thoracotomy and examines the evidence to support it accumulated over 40 years.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Morgan et al. (2009) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: