Emergency thoracotomyis a surgical technique that has been extended in the last few years,
and is currently included in advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocols. Despite its
proven use in patients with penetrating heart wounds, it is often not used due to lack of
knowledge of the technique. Currently, the increase in chest wounds due to violence, traffic
accidents, crashes or suicides, and advances in extra-hospital medical care systems, has
currently awakened new interest in this technique.
A review of emergency thoracotomy is presented in this article: indications, surgical
technique, results, and its usefulness in the extra-hospital setting
