The importance of thoracoabdominal injuries results from increasing rates of blunt thoracic and abdominal traffic injuries and of penetrating injuries, due to growing rates of criminal injuries. Differentiation and specialization of the trauma management in traumatologic centres has resulted in development of a widened indication spectrum of new diagnostic and treamtnet algorithms in thoracic and abdominal injuries („emergency department thoracotomy“, „damage control“, thoracic and abdominal surgeries, miniinvasive thoracoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, conservative treatment of injuries to parenchymatous abdominal organs). These procedures are included in a complex management scheme during early posttraumatic periods and are aimed at reducing posttraumatic morbidity (primarily, the prevention of multiorgan failure) and mortality rates. Based on literature data and experience of the Traumatology Centre, the authors present an overview of current diagnostic and treatment procedures in thoracic and abdominal injuries.

        Key words: thoracic and abdominal injuries – early posttraumatic phase – diagnostics and treatment