Cardiac Trauma

Abstract

In cardiac trauma the two main mechanisms of injury are blunt and penetrating trauma. Common cardiac effects of trauma include myocardial rupture, contusion, laceration, pericardial insult, coronary injury, valvular damage, arrhythmias, and conduction abnormalities. Hemodynamic instability can develop rapidly and pose marked risk to patient survival. An adequate level of clinical awareness and timely use of diagnostic techniques such as echocardiography, aortography, and cardiac angiography are essential for rapid identification of cardiac trauma. Once the diagnosis is made, prompt surgical intervention is often the key to survival.

Collateral Damage

“…As such, it is imperative to assess patients for life-threatening tamponade, which may be exacerbated by positive pressure ventilation. Additionally, in patients with hemothorax, although exploration may be undertaken by thoracotomy for presumed noncardiac injury, the possibility of cardiac injury should be considered, and this may require a median sternotomy ( 2 ).…”