Frequency and characterization of chest trauma. Cuenca – Ecuador

Abstract

Background: chest trauma is a highly challenging pathology due to the involvement of vital organs, with the high possibility of multi-organ failure and death. Objective: to determine the frequency and severity of chest trauma in patients treated at the Vicente Corral Moscoso and José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital, period 2018. Materials and methods: this is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 248 patients with chest trauma who met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a form designed by the author. Descriptive statistics were presented with measures of centralization (mean) and dispersion (SD) for quantitative variables, and for qualitative variables with frequency and percentage values. The information was tabulated in the statistical software SPSS v. 15. Results: chest trauma frequency was 17.2%; the average age of 42.03 ± SD 18.74 years; 60% patients were male; furthermore, 30% had a thoracoabdominal trauma; 20% the etiology was work accident; and 80% had a blunt trauma and 50% of them was direct. In open trauma, 20% was caused by a knife. 20% of the complications were due to pneumothorax, emphysema and hemithorax; 60% had a surgical management, and of these, the most frequent types of interventions were pleural drainage; and the severity were mild in 60%. Conclusions: chest trauma was frequent in males, the etiology was due to occupational accident, pneumothorax being the most common complication.