Management of tension gastrothorax: experience from sub-Saharan Africa

Tension gastrothorax is a form of obstructive shock resulting from increased intrathoracic pressure due to a distended herniated stomach. The clinical features of tension gastrothorax are similar to the clinical features of the more common tension pneumothorax. Clinical recognition of this trauma has remained difficult especially in the tropics where most responders are not specialists. We managed a 31-year-old male who, in addition to typical features of obstructive shock secondary to increased intrathoracic pressures, had a recent meal prior to the trauma and a scaphoid abdomen at presentation. We argue that a history of a recent meal before trauma and an unusually scaphoid abdomen could be suggestive of tension gastrothorax and may help to differentiate it from tension pneumothorax. We recommend improved emergency preparedness to help recognise and treat this pathology.