Pulmonary contusion – A risk factor of mortality in blunt thoracic trauma

Despite the development of intensive respiratory therapy, the mortality of patients with blunt thoracic trauma still remains in a very high level. The aim of this study is to present the role of pulmonary contusion as a risk factor of mortality in blunt thoracic trauma. Material and Methods. This 3-year retrospective study (September 2010 year – October 2013 year) was performed on the base of a group of 212 hospitalized patients with blunt thoracic trauma. Imagine diagnosis (chest x-ray, chest computed tomography) and autopsy (gross pathology and histological examination) were used to establish the pulmonary contusion and post-contusional lung pathological changes. Results. Pulmonary contusion was established in 139 of patients (65, 57 %). The death was established in 36 of patients with blunt thoracic trauma – 16, 98 % mortality rate. Death up to 72 nd hour of blunt thoracic trauma was established in 9 of patients, 5 of whom with severe pulmonary contusion. Pulmonary contusion with posttraumatic lung edema (10 cases) and posttraumatic pneumonia (17 cases) were the cause of the death after 72 nd hour of blunt thoracic trauma. Calculated odds ratio of 5, 15 presented pulmonary contusion as a risk factor of death in blunt thoracic trauma. Conclusion. This study confirmed a very high mortality rate of patients with blunt thoracic trauma. It convincingly presented the pulmonary contusion as a risk factor of death in patients with blunt thoracic trauma.