General Guidelines for Emergent Exploratory Thoracotomy - Initial thoracostomy tube drainage > 20 mL/Kg - Output 200 mL/hr for the first 3 hours - Persistent bleeding at a rate > 7 mL/Kg/hr - Increasing hemothorax seen on chest X-ray - Patient remains hypotensive despite adequate blood replacement (other sites of blood loss have been ruled out) - Patient decompensates after initial response to resuscitation #Exploratory #Thoracotomy #Indications #Management #Trauma #Hemothorax
