Abstract

GONZALEZ L, ROBERTO et al. Thoracic foreign body after penetrating chest trauma. Rev. chil. enferm. respir. [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.2, pp. 95-98. ISSN 0717-7348.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-73482010000200005.

We present the case of a 21 year old man with an intra thoracic foreign body after penetrating chest trauma. The foreign body was the blade of a knife. It was removed through the wound, without thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and the patient evolved without incidents. Intra-thoracic foreign bodies secondary to penetrating trauma are rare. They are usually removed through thoracotomy or VATS. Both alternatives allow adequate exploration of the intra-thoracic structures and repair injuries that are potentially lethal. In stable patients and selected cases, they can be removed without surgery (without thoracotomy or VATS); always in an operating room and under general anesthesia, in case that surgical exploration could be needed after the procedure.

Keywords : Chest injury; foreign bodies; penetrating wounds; wounds and injuries.