[Diagnostic-therapeutic Algorithm in a Blunt Injury of the Thorax.].

Based on the group of 22 patients operated on for a blunt injury of the thorax a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm was evaluated in the procedure of the treatment of a severe trauma of the thorax. Acute thoracotomy or laparotomy was performed in 17 patients and in 5 of them thoracotomy was indicated only after some time interval. In the patients with acute surgery the indication was a rupture of diaphragm, massive hemotorax in case of lung laceration of bleeding from thoracic wall, rupture of bronchus and an associated injury of intra-abdominal parenchymal organs. Thoracotomy was after some time interval performed in case of empyema of thorax, post-injury paresis of diaphragm and residual hematoma in the lung parenchyma. Key words: blunt injury of thorax, diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm, indication to an acute or postponed operation.