Thoracotomy is indicated in all of the following Except
Penetrating chest trauma
Rappidly accumlating Hemothorax
Massive air leak
Pulmonary contusion
Indications of thoracotomy after chest trauma Cardiac arrest (resuscitative thoracotomy) Massive hemothorax (drainage of more than 1500 ml of blood when a chest tube is first inseed or continuous haemorrhage of more than 200 ml/hr for more than 3 consecutive hours). Brisk bleeding (> 100 ml/15 min) Penetrating injuries of the anterior chest with cardiac tamponade. Large open wounds of the thoracic cage. Rupture of the bronchus, aoa, esophagus or diaphragm. A non-emergent indication of thoracotomy Empyema not resolved with tube thoracostomy Clotted hemothorax Lung abcess Thoracic duct injuries Tracheoesophageal fistulas Chronic sequelae of vascular injuries (pseudo aneurysms & AV fistulas)
Cardio thoracic surgery  