Five Tips for the Management of Stable Patients With Penetrating Thoracobdominal Injuries

Dr. Reed: Most of us not working in a trauma center rarely see penetrating thoracobdominal injuries, but it's certainly a stressful situation. With stable patients, things can proceed slightly differently and I'd like to share five tips or pearls that you can't really find in the textbooks. Dr. Andrew Petrosoniak: Call for two units of uncross matched blood if the patient has a GSW. Fit the patient up when they arrive; this obviously only applies or is logistically feasible if they're stable and awake.