Outcomes of resuscitative and emergent thoracotomies following injury at the largest trauma center in Estonia.

Background: An emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is performed in critically injured patients after a recent or in an imminent cardiac arrest following trauma. Emergent thoracotomy (ET) or operation room thoracotomy is reserved for more stable patients. However, the number of these interventions performed in an European settings is limited. Thus, we initiated the current study to investigate outcomes and risk factors for mortality of patients required EDT or ET at the largest trauma center in Estonia.

Methods: All patients admitted after trauma to the North Estonia Medical Centre between 1/1/2017 and 31/12/2021 subjected to EDT or ET were included. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

Results: Overall, 39 patients were included. EDT and ET were performed in 16 and 23 patients, respectively. Median age was 45 (33-53) years and 89.7% were males. The crude 30-day mortality was 56.4% being 87.5% and 34.8% in the EDT and ET group, respectively. None of the patients with pre-hospital CPR requirement, severe head injury (AIS head ≥ 3) or severe abdominal injury (AIS abdomen ≥ 3) survived. All the patients in the survival group had signs of life in the emergency department. The rate of stab wounds was significantly higher in the survival group (p = 0.007). Patients with CGS < 9 had significantly lower possibility for survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: EDT and ET outcomes in Estonian trauma system are comparable to similar advanced trauma systems in Europe. Patients with GCS > 8, signs of life in the ED and with isolated penetrating chest injury had the most favorable outcomes.