Emergency centre thoracotomy for penetrating trauma: Insights from 2 South African district-level emergency centres

Introduction

Trauma is a major contributor to global disease burden, disproportionally affecting low- and middle-income countries, especially in the African Region. Emergency centre thoracotomy (ECT) is a potentially life-saving procedure for a sub-group of trauma patients in extremis. Most literature regarding ECT originated in high-income countries. This study aimed to describe patient, procedure and outcome characteristics of ECTs performed at two facilities in a resource-limited setting in South Africa.

Patients and methods

A retrospective chart review was performed at two district-level facilities in Cape Town from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2021. All patients who underwent post-trauma thoracotomy in the emergency centre (EC) were eligible for inclusion. Cases were excluded if patients did not undergo thoracotomy in the EC, or if medical records were missing. Patients were identified using an electronic EC attendance register, and theatre records, which were screened using documented diagnoses and dispositions. Clinical notes were interrogated for information regarding patient demographics, mechanism of injury, clinical presentation, procedural characteristics (such as level of clinician, injury found, use of ultrasound). Outcomes measured were survival to specified endpoints, and neurological or functional outcomes.

Results

Over 4 years, 67 ECTs were performed (50 stabs, 17 gunshots). No ECTs were performed for blunt trauma. Most patients were male, with a median age of 25 years (IQR 21–33). More than two-thirds of patients presented with their own transport, and more than 80 % presented with signs of life. Most ECTs were performed by non-specialists. Survival to hospital discharge was 24 % (32 % for stabs, 0 % for gunshots). Neurological outcome was difficult to analyse, however seemed to be good in all but one survivor.

Conclusion

The performance of ECT in this resource-limited district-level setting, followed by stabilisation and transfer of patients to tertiary hospitals seems to result in comparable or better survival rates than reported in international literature. Further research is needed to better describe the performance and outcomes of EC thoracotomies in a resource-limited setting. This study setting, with high incidence of trauma and ECT performed, provides an excellent opportunity for further research. Prospective studies may demonstrate correlations between specific patient and procedural characteristics and outcomes and may guide the development of local guidelines.