الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Within the period from January 1995 to October 1996, 317 patients were admitted into Cardiothoracic Surgery Departement. Mansoura Univeristy Hospital with either an isolated chest injury or with chest trauma as a part of multisystem injury. Out of these patients 32 cases were found to be in need for emergency thoracotomy (10.90/0) there were 29 males and 3 female (9.4%). Chest x-ray was routinely done for all cases except two because of very bad general condition due to massive intrathoracic haemorrhage in one of them and bilateral pneumothorax associated with massive surgical emphysema in the other one and the decision for thoracotomy was taken on clinical grounds. The indications for the thoracotomy were due to: * Massive bleeding as much as 1500 cc initially in 4 cases (12.5%). * Bleeding of 2000cc within 2 sucessive hours in one case (3.1 0/0). * Massive air leak in 12 cases (37.50/0). * Penetrating injuries over the pericordial area in 7 cases (21.90/0). * Suspected traumatic diaphrogmotic hernia in 4 cases (12.50/0). * Traumatic thoracotomy in one case (3.10/0). * Clotted haemothorax in 3 cases (9.30/0).