All trauma patients ages 18 years or older presenting within 24 hours of blunt or penetrating injury resulting in traumatic HTx or HPTx will be eligible for enrollment. This prospective comparative study will consist of a non-irrigation control arm and a thoracic irrigation experimental arm. Thoracic irrigation is performed at the time of the initial TT placement, and is done at the discretion of the attending Trauma surgeon. All patients enrolled will be entered in a prospectively maintained thoracic trauma database. The primary outcome is need for secondary intervention, defined as additional TT placement, VATS, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), or thoracotomy for the management of retained HTx. Secondary interventions will be screened according to indication. Only secondary interventions directed at management of retained collection will be considered in the analysis for our primary outcome. Secondary intervention aimed at persistent air leaks or post-pull PTx will be considered separately in any analysis.
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Number of participants with thoracic trauma
Timeframe: Dec 2022 - Dec 2023