Journal of Chest Surgery

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (대한심장혈관흉부외과학회)
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Alexander the Great's Life-Threatening Thoracic Trauma

  • Apostolakis, Efstratios (Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Ioannina, University of Ioannina School of Medicine) ;
  • Papakonstantinou, Nikolaos A. (Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Athens "Evangelismos") ;
  • Baikoussis, Nikolaos G. (Department of Cardiac Surgery, General Hospital of Athens Hippocratio) ;
  • Apostolaki, Georgia (Department of English Literature, University of Athens)
  • Received : 2018.04.23
  • Accepted : 2018.05.08
  • Published : 2018.08.05
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Abstract

Alexander the Great was a world-class leader with tremendous courage. He paid no heed to the dangers of the battlefield, so he was always in the front lines. However, his excessive courage put his life in danger. Herein, we present an analysis of the information contained in the chronicles about a very severe, life-threatening thoracic trauma that nearly killed the great stratelates. The detailed descriptions made by Arrianus allow us to conclude that Alexander the Great experienced a nearly fatal case of tension pneumothorax. Information on how he was managed is also presented.

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References

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