Penetrating trauma in the lower chest, is a diagnosis challenge and deserves special attention with respect to the treatment for abdominal complications. One hundred and ten patients admitted to the emergency unit of UNICAMP - University Hospital Trauma Center from 1988 to 1998 who presented thoracoabdominal penetrating wounds and were submitted to laparotomy and closed tube thoracostomy were analysed. Incidence, treatment and postoperative evolution. Digestive fistula was studied. Ninety-one patients (82,7%) were male and 19 (17,3%) female, with the age varying between 13 to 63 years old. Gunshot wounds ocurred in 60 (54,5%) patients, while stab wounds in 50 (45,5%). Digestive fistula occurred in six (5,4%) patients; four (3,6%) were pancreatic fistula, one (0,9%) biliar which and one (0,9%) gastric were managed nonoperative with a satisfactory evolution.
Digestive fistula; Chest wounds; Thoracoabdominal wounds; Abdominal trauma; Diaphragmatic injuries; Trauma
