Thoracotomy: The current research and outcomes with Zane Perkins

In this session we will examine the latest research to emerge from Zane Perkins and Mike Christian around Resuscitative Thoracotomy (RT). The research has been led by Zane and Mike examined over 600 retrospective thoracotomy cases from the LAA database spanning 20 years, looking at the survivors, the pathology (exsanguination versus tamponade), the pre-arrest rhythms, the morbidity and mortality, the time of intervention versus outcome as well as other markers. I wanted to explore the results of this research and the potential implications on practice.



Zane Perkins is a consultant Trauma and General Surgeon at the Royal London Hospital, a consultant Physician for London's Air Ambulance, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Trauma Sciences, Queen Mary’s University London.




• Current thinking on Thoracotomy practice


• Examine the research in more detail from primary & secondary outcomes


• Survival rates - Who are the current survivors?


• What are the main domains of pathology


• Exsanguination: Results of outcome and pre-arrest rhythms


• What it shows around intervention and decisions around exsanguination


• Tamponade: results of outcome and pre-arrest rhythms 


• What it shows around intervention and decisions around tamponade


• Differentiated decision making and prospective changes to SOP


• Final thoughts and take-home messages.




The study has yet to be published but we will publish the results as they are published. My thanks to Zane for an engaging and insightful interview.