Clinical Appearance and Results of the Treatment of Ten Cases of Traumatic Asphyxia in Isfahan Educational Hospitals

Introduction & Traumatic asphyxia is a commonly used designation of a rare syndrome related to severe compressive trauma to the thorax. In this study we report ten cases of this syndrome. In evaluation ten patients were seen exhibiting the stigmata of traumatic asphyxia. Data consisting of sex, age, mechanism of injury, clinical finding, associated injuries, length of hospitalization and outcome were studied. There were 8 male and 2 female patients ranging in age from 4 to 56 years. Mechanism of injury was crush due to earthquake in one patient, entrapment beneath a vehicle in one, entrapment beneath a heavy stone in one, crushing with heavy objects in two and car accidents in five victims. Subconjunctival hemorrhage, craniofacial edema and petechiae developed in all patients. Most of the patients suffered some associated injuries including 2 liver injuries, 2 rib fractures, 2 diaphragmatic injuries and one diastasis of pubis. Length of hospitalization ranged from4 to 27 days. There was no mortality. Traumatic asphyxia is a rare but important syndrome after thoracoabdominal blunt trauma that should be kept in mind for early diagnosis and management. It can be associated with other organs injuries.