Prehospital Thoracotomy: A Commentary

Abstract

Traumatic cardiac arrest is a critical condition with potentially rectifiable causes, such as airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, or exsanguinating bleeding. The evolution of advanced prehospital trauma care has led to increased consideration of prehospital thoracotomy, an invasive procedure aimed at rapidly identifying the cause of arrest and implementing temporary measures to improve survival. While studies have reported promising outcomes, the appropriateness of performing prehospital thoracotomy, as well as its incorporation into the skill set of paramedics,both remain subjects of debate. This commentary examines the applicability, logistical challenges, and potential alternatives associated with prehospital thoracotomy in the context of traumatic cardiac arrest.

Keywords

• traumatic cardiac arrest
• prehospital thoracotomy
• paramedic training
• needle thoracotomy
• prehospital ultrasound
• tamponade needle decompression