OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of mortality in patients with severe chest trauma (SCT).

METHODSThe clinical data of 777 SCT [abbreviated injury scale (AIS) ≥3] patients who were treated in the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center from January 2006 to April 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to explore 15 possible mortality-related risk factors.

RESULTSSeven factors were found to be correlated with the mortality of SCT: age, hemorrhagic shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), pulmonary infection, abdominal organ injury, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, and thorax AIS score. Among them five factors were the independent factors that might increase the mortality of SCT: hemorrhagic shock (B=1.710, OR=1.291, P=0.001), MODS (B=3.453, OR=1.028, P<0.001), pulmonary infection (B=2.396, OR=10.941, P<0.001), abdominal organ injury (B=1.542, OR=1.210, P=0.005), and thorax AIS score ≥4 (B=0.487, OR=1.622, P<0.001). Two factors showed protective effects: age ≤60 years (B=-0.035, OR=0.962, P=0.01) and GCS score ≥12 (B=-0.635, OR=0.320, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSAge, disease severity, and complications (hemorrhagic shock, MODS, and pulmonary infection) are independent risk factors of the mortality of SCT. Effective treatment programs targeting these risk factors may improve the outcomes of SCT patients.