Cardiac trauma

Abstract

The first description of a cardiac injury is found in The Iliad. Cardiac injuries are one of the most challenging injuries, requiring immediate surgical intervention, excellent surgical skills and critical care. The clinical presentation of penetrating cardiac injuries has a broad range, from haemodynamic stability to cardiopulmonary arrest. Two-dimensional echocardiography is now the procedure of choice over subxiphoid pericardial window to evaluate for the presence of these injuries. Emergency department thoracotomy is indicated for management of penetrating cardiac injuries with immediate cardiography, aortic cross-clamping and open cardiac massage. The left anterolateral thoracotomy is the incision of choice for patients that arrive in extremis. The repair of the wounds should be performed according to the anatomy of the injured area. Mortality remains high, although better patient selection according to physiologic scoring leads to increase in survival.

Surgical Challenges for Urgent Approach in Penetrating Heart Injuries

“…Although penetrating heart injuries are less common when compared to other injuries, they are of great importance due to their high mortality rates [Asensio 2001;Campbell 1997;Goins 1996;Thourani 1999]. Thoracal injury accounts for 10.4% of all urgent surgical interventions, and cardiac injury is noticed in only 1% of these cases.…”

Direct cardiac rupture associated with sternal fracture following blunt trauma: A report of two case

“…These patients had a grade IV cardiac injury according to the Organ Injury Scaling committee of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [ 4 ]. This Organ Injury Scaling committee of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma could measure the severity of injury and help predict the prognosis of the patients [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Penetrating Cardiac Trauma In Stab Wounds: A Study Of Diagnostic Accuracy Of The Cardiac Area

“…A high clinical suspicion of cardiac injury (CI), which occurs in the 6.4% stab wounds to the chest, [13] is important due to the high mortality and the increase in survival rates if intervention comes early. In low and middle-income countries centers without access to radiological studies are still the primary location for the diagnosis and management of these injuries.…”