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Table 1 Definitions of Terminology Used in Patients Undergoing EDT

From: Emergency department thoracotomy for the critically injured patient: Objectives, indications, and outcomes

emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) = thoracotomy performed in the emergency department for patients arriving in extremis; this should not be used interchangeably with nor confused with a thoracotomy that is performed in the operating room (OR) or intensive care unit (ICU) within hours after injury for delayed physiologic deterioration.

"no signs of life" = no detectable blood pressure, respiratory or motor effort, cardiac electrical activity, or pupillary activity (i.e., clinical death).

"no vital signs" = no palpable blood pressure, but demonstrate electrical activity, respiratory effort or pupillary reactivity.