Introduction: Serious blunt injuries are accompanied with the worsening of the mechanics of ventilation due to the chest and lung injuries alone as well as with a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) that always affects the lungs. The development of an injury-induced respiratory failure is multifactorial and timely pharmacological intervention is likely to contribute to the treatment algorithm, thus improving prognosis in some patients with a serious chest trauma. The objective of the study: The objective of this study is to verify the efficacy of the pharmacological blockade of the systemic inflammatory response of the body (SIRS) in serious blunt chest injuries. The study also intends to identify whether the administration of indomethacin could reduce SIRS score and prevent multiorgan dysfunction and multiorgan failure. Methods: 126 patients with blunt chest injuries were evaluated during 33 months. The patients were divided into four groups, depending on the extent of trauma severity assessed by means of ISS (Injury Severity Score). Randomly selected patients in each group were administered – in addition to standard therapy – indomethacin in usual doses. All tests were carried out at a significance level α of 0.05. Results: The onset of SIRS in the subgroup with indomethacin was statistically significantly postponed in groups I. and II. Groups ISS I to III showed a statistically markedly shorter time of SIRS duration in the subgroup with indomethacin. The first increase in inflammatory markers (acute phase proteins) was statistically significantly postponed in the group ISS I without the administration of indomethacin. Groups ISS II through IV did not show a statistically significant differences in the first onsets of inflammatory markers. The evaluation of all four groups did not detect any statistically significant differences in the duration of the inflammatory markers increase in the subgroup with indomethacin and in a control group. There was no statistical significance in the average time of ventilation support. An average hospitalization time was shorter in the subgroup ISS II with indomethacin. There was found statistically significant difference. Of the patients included in our file seven died during the monitored period. Lethality is thus 5.6%. A multiorgan failure was the cause of death in two patients in the non-indomethacin subgroup and in one patient in the indomethacin subgroup. Conclusion: We proved that the factors that can be affected by the blockade of cyclooxygenase display statistically significant changes in subgroups with the administration of indomethacin. No changes were recorded with regard to acute phase proteins whose synthesis is not mediated by prostaglandins. The administration of indomethacin positively affects the development of SIRS, reduces and diminishes its effects as well as impact on the impaired body.

        Key words: blunt thoracic injury – SIRS – MOF – indomethacin