Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic trauma

Recent advances in the diagnosis of thoracic trauma have included a return to admission ECG to detect cardiac contusion, use of surgeon-performed ultrasound in the detection of cardiac tamponade or a hemothorax, use of spiral CT and transesophageal echocardiography for blunt rupture of the descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoscopy to evacuate hemothoraces or detect occult injuries to the left hemidiaphragm. There also have been advances in repair of injuries to the heart, lung, and descending thoracic aorta.