Emergency clamshell thoracotomy in blunt trauma resuscitation: Shelling the paradigm-2 cases and review of the literature

Clamshell thoracotomy (CST) may be indicated and life-saving in carefully selected cases of blunt trauma. As such, the current clinical stance of general contraindication of CST in blunt trauma should be reviewed and criteria developed to accommodate select cases, considering the diversity of injuries resulting from blunt trauma.