Resuscitative thoracotomy

A resuscitative thoracotomy (sometimes referred to as an emergency department thoracotomy, trauma thoracotomy or, colloquially, as "cracking the chest") is a thoracotomy typically done in order to resuscitate a person who has been severely injured after sustaining a severe trauma involving the thoracic cavity. For most persons with thoracic trauma the procedure is not necessary; only 15% of those with thoracic injury require the procedure.