Stabilisation of thoracic wall in patients with chest injury.

The authors analyse a group of 38 polytraumatised patients with unstable thoracic injury who were subdued to internal surgical stabilisation of the thoracic wall during the period from 1st October 1994 to 30th September 2001. The average period of controlled pulmonary ventilation (CPV) was 3 days and the average period of hospitalisation at the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Department (AICD) was 10 days. In indicated cases, the authors recommend an active surgical approach in the treatment of patients with unstable thoracic injuries. (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 3.).