Penetrating cardiac injuries

Successful management of a combined cardiopulmonary penetrating injury: a case report

Background

Penetrating thoracic injury is a type of critical illness with a high mortality rate, which often involves the heart, large blood vessels, and lungs. Penetrating cardiac injury is a very serious condition, and most patients die rapidly within minutes due to hemorrhagic shock and acute cardiac tamponade. Due to the critical condition and rapid development of this type of injury, most patients die before reaching the hospital. It is rare in clinical practice and difficult to treat.

Case Description

Our hospital recently admitted a case of penetrating cardiac injury. In this case, a 50-year-old male was admitted to the hospital following “a fall from a height [that] caused steel bar[s] to penetrate the chest cavity for 7 hours before he arrived at the hospital”. The patient fell from a height of 3meters at a construction site, which caused 2 steel bars to penetrate his chest. The patient presented with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, and apathy. Chest computed tomography suggested combined cardiopulmonary penetrating injury. Echocardiography suggested penetrating cardiac injury, and moderate pericardial effusion. After the patient was sent to the Emergency Department of our hospital, the relevant laboratory examinations and an emergency surgery were performed. The rescue team consisting of cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency department, and imaging department specified the treatment plan. Under general anesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass was performed via right femoral arteriovenous cannulation. The steel bars were removed, the left atrial posterior wall and ventricular septal perforation were repaired, and the great cardiac vein was sutured. Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed at the same time, and the anterolateral lung tissue of the left lower lobe was resected. Postoperative treatment was given to prevent against infection and improve cardiopulmonary function. The patient recovered well, and he was discharged from the hospital. The results of the follow-up 1 year after surgery were normal.

Conclusions

Timely treatment and a reasonable operation mode is essential in treating this kind of trauma. A joint diagnosis and treatment by a multidisciplinary team can enable a comprehensive assessment of the condition to be made quickly and an optimal treatment plan to be formulated.

The Role of Pericardial Window Techniques in the Management of Penetrating Cardiac Injuries in the Hemodynamically Stable Patient: Where Does It Fit in the Current Trauma Algorithm

INTRODUCTION

Penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) have high in-hospital mortality rates. Guidelines regarding the use of pericardial window (PW) for diagnosis and treatment of suspected PCIs are not universally established. The objective of this review was to provide a critical appraisal of the current literature to determine the effectiveness and safety of PW as both a diagnostic and therapeutic technique for suspected PCIs in patients with hemodynamic stability.

METHODS

A review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Embase to identify literature evaluating the accuracy and therapeutic efficacy of PW and its role in a hemodynamically stable patient with penetrating thoracic or thoracoabdominal trauma.

RESULTS

Eleven studies evaluating diagnostic PW and two studies evaluating therapeutic PW were included. These studies ranged from (y) 1977 to 2018. Existing literature indicates that PW is highly sensitive (92%-100%) and specific (96%-100%) for the diagnosis of suspected PCIs. PW and drainage, when compared with sternotomy, may be associated with decreased total hospital stay (4.1 versus 6.5 d; P < 0.001) and intensive care unit stay (0.25 versus 2.04 d; P < 0.001) along with similar mortality and complication rates after the management of hemopericardium.

CONCLUSIONS

In a hemodynamically stable patient presenting with penetrating cardiac trauma with a high suspicion for PCI, PWs can (1) facilitate prompt diagnosis in the event of equivocal ultrasonography findings and (2) serve as an effective therapeutic modality with the benefit of potentially avoiding more invasive procedures. Subxiphoid, transdiaphragmatic, and laparoscopic approaches for PW have been shown to have similar efficacy and safety.

The importance of simulation education for the management of traumatic cardiac injuries: a case series

Background

The management of cardiac trauma requires rapid intervention in the emergency room, facilitated by a surgeon with prior experience to have good outcomes. Many surgeons have little experience in the requisite procedures. We report here 4 patients who suffered cardiac trauma, and all 4 patients survived with good neurologic outcomes.

Case presentations

Patient 1 suffered blunt cardiac trauma from a motor vehicle accident and presented in shock. Cardiac tamponade was diagnosed and a cardiac rupture repaired with staples through a median sternotomy after rapid transport to the operating room. Patient 2 suffered blunt cardiac trauma and presented in shock with cardiac tamponade. Operating room median sternotomy allowed extraction of pericardial clot with recovery of physiologic stability. Patient 3 presented with self-inflicted stab wounds to the chest and was unstable. She was brought to the operating room and thoracotomy allowed identification of a left ventricle wound which was repaired with a suture. Patient 4 presented in cardiac arrest with multiple self-inflicted stab wounds to the chest. Emergency room thoracotomy allowed repair of a right ventricle laceration with recovery of vital signs.

Conclusions

The management of all 4 patients was according to the principles taught in the ATOM course. Three of the 4 surgeons had no prior experience with management of cardiac trauma and credited the good outcomes to taking the ATOM course. These are uncommon injuries and formal training in their management is beneficial to patients.

Embolization by Bullet Dislodged from the Heart

Embolization by a dislodged projectile is a rare complication that may occur in cases of gunshot cardiac injuries. We report a case of a firearm projectile cardiac injury that evolved, with dislocation of the projectile during cardiac surgery, into embolization of the right external carotid artery.

Blunt and Penetrating Cardiac Trauma

Patients with traumatic cardiac injuries can present with wide variability in their severity of illness. The most severe will present in cardiac arrest, whereas the most benign may be altogether asymptomatic; most will fall somewhere in between. Management of cardiac injuries largely depends on mechanism of injury and patient physiology. Understanding the spectrum of injuries and their associated manifestations can help providers react more quickly and initiate potentially life-saving therapies more efficiently when time is critical. This article discusses the workup and management of both blunt and penetrating cardiac injuries.

Penetrating cardiac injuries: predictive model for outcomes based on 2016 patients from the National Trauma Data Bank

BACKGROUND

Penetrating cardiac injuries are uncommon and lethal. The objectives of this study are to examine the national profile of cardiac injuries, identify independent predictors of outcome, generate, compare and validate previous predictive models for outcomes. We hypothesized that National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) given its large number of patients, would validate these models.

METHODS

The NTDB was queried for data on cardiac injuries, using survival as the main outcome measure. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing univariate and stepwise logistic regression. The stepwise logistic regression model was then compared with other predictive models of outcome.

RESULTS

There were 2016 patients with penetrating cardiac injuries identified from 1,310,720 patients. Incidence: 0.16%. Mechanism of injury: GSWs-1264 (63%), SWs-716 (36%), Shotgun/impalement-19/16 (1%). Mean RTS 1.75, mean ISS 27 ± 23. Overall survival 675 (33%). 830 patients (41%) underwent ED thoracotomy, 47 survived (6%). Survival stratified by mechanism: GSWs 114/1264 (10%), SWs 564/717 (76%). Predictors of outcome for mortality-univariate analysis: vital signs, RTS, ISS, GCS: Field CPR, ED intubation, ED thoracotomy and aortic cross-clamping (p < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression identified cardiac GSW's (p < 0.001; AOR 26.85; 95% CI 17.21-41.89), field CPR (p = 0.003; AOR 3.65; 95% CI 1.53-8.69), the absence of spontaneous ventilation (p = 0.008; AOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.14), the presence of an associated abdominal GSW (p = 0.009; AOR 2.58, 95% CI 1.26-5.26) need for ED airway (p = 0.0003 AOR 1386.30; 95% CI 126.0-15251.71) and aortic cross-clamping (p = 0.0003 AOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.11-0.28) as independent predictors for mortality. Overall predictive power of model-93%.

CONCLUSION

Predictors of outcome were identified. Overall survival rates are lower than prospective studies report. Predictive model from NTDB generated larger number of strong independent predictors of outcomes, correlated and validated previous predictive models.

The early hospital management of gunshot wounds. Part 1: head, neck and thorax

The management of gunshot wounds is an increasing problem for UK emergency doctors, but not to an extent where it has become routine or allowed individuals to gain significant experience in their treatment. This article reviews the pathophysiology of gunshot injury in general before examining the evidence available concerning the management of gunshot wounds to the head neck and thorax.

New device for temporary hemorrhage control in penetrating injuries to the ventricles

Background

The best way to control hemorrhage from cardiac injuries is through digital occlusion followed by suture. However, this is difficult to accomplish in the emergency department (ED) setting. Generally, temporary control is obtained in advance of definitive treatment in the operating room. Despite safety and efficacy concerns, balloon Foley catheter insertion through the injury is still an option following ED thoracotomies. We developed a new device for temporary hemorrhage control in cardiac injuries and compared it to the Foley.

Methods

6 adult swine (n=6) underwent full-thickness (1.5 cm) injury along the longitudinal axis of the right ventricle (RV). After 5 s of bleeding, hemorrhage control was attempted with either the device or the Foley, and blood loss quantified. Subsequently, the wound was sutured and mean arterial pressure was restored to baseline with lactated Ringer's infusion. Subsequently, another injury 2 cm apart in the same ventricle was managed with apparatus not employed in the first injury. The same followed in the LV totaling 4 injuries per animal, 2 in each ventricle. Intraoperative echocardiogram, laboratory test and final wound sizes assessed.

Results

The device resulted in less bleeding than the Foley; RV 58.7±11.3 vs 147.7±30.9 mL, LV 81.7±11.9 vs 187.5±40.3 mL (p<0.05). Percent change in tricuspid regurgitation was less with the device than FO, 66.6% vs 400%. Mitral regurgitation increased 16% with Foley, but remained unchanged with the device. Changes in stroke volume and LV ejection fraction were less with the device than with Foley; SV 2.09% vs 12.48%, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.46% vs 5.45%. Foley insertion enlarged the wounds. Platelet count, complete blood count, prothrombin time, activated prothrombin time and fibrinogen decreased, whereas troponin and lactate increased compared with baseline, underscoring the magnitude of shock.

Conclusions

Cardiac hemorrhage was effectively controlled with the new device. The low-profile collapsible blocking membrane interfered less with cardiac function than did the balloon of the Foley, an important asset in the context of shock.

Positive video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial window management of a right ventricle stab wound with minimally invasive technique

This is a case report of a successful right ventricle stab wound suture through a video-assisted pericardial thoracoscopic window, avoiding the need of a thoracotomy diminishing its associated risks, morbidity and costs. A 22-year-old patient was admitted to the emergency room with a stab wound on the left side of his chest, the patient showed symptoms of dyspnea and signs of pulmonary hypoventilation on his left lung, a chest tube were placed on the affected side with an improvement on his symptoms. A video-assisted thoracoscopic pericardial window (VATPW) was performed within the next 24 hours to rule out underlying heart wound. A VATPW shows a 1 cm right ventricle wound which was treated through the same portals avoiding a thoracotomy. The left chest tube was removed 48 hours after de procedure and the patient underwent a control echocardiogram, with no abnormalities reported and no symptoms of dyspnea, respiratory distress or palpitation the patient was subsequently discharged. The VATPW is a feasible and safe procedure to rule out underlying heart injury in individualized cases and it provides a minimally invasive treatment option in selected patients avoiding major surgery like thoracotomy or sternotomy and the added morbidity that carry with them.

Evaluation of penetrating cardiac stab wounds

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with unfavourable outcome following stab wounds to the heart in order to improve selection of patients who may benefit from resuscitative effort.

METHODS

From February to March, variables were collected from medical records of patients sustaining cardiac trauma. The inclusion criterion was the presence of a penetrating cardiac injury confirmed intraoperatively.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight patients were admitted with penetrating cardiac injury. The mortality rate was 60 %. Fifty-seven patients had unrecordable blood pressure at admission and emergency department thoracotomy was done in twelve patients. The AAST-OIS score was higher in non survivors group (4,21 vs 4,49). Multivariate analysis identified tamponade, associated injuries, right ventricular laceration as the most predictive variables for mortality.

DISCUSSION

Stab wounds should be separated from gunshots wounds as the former mechanism has different pathophysiological issue. Patients arriving without signs of life may benefit from aggressive resuscitative efforts depending on transport time.

CONCLUSION

Penetrating cardiac injuries are highly lethal condition. Cardiac tamponade, right ventricle lacerations and associated extra-cardiac injuries are independent risk factors of death.

Transdiaphragmatic resuscitative open cardiac massage: description of the technique and a first case-series of an alternative approach to the heart

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this paper is to describe the transdiaphragmatic approach to the heart for open CPR in patients that arrest at laparotomy and to present a first case series of patients that have undergone this procedure.

METHODS

All patients who had undergone intraperitoneal transdiaphragmatic open CPR between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2012 were retrieved from the operation registry at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland. Transdiaphragmatic access to the heart is initiated with a 10-cm-long anterocaudal incision in the central tendon of the diaphragm--approximately at 2 o'clock. Internal cardiac compression through the diaphragmatic incision can be performed from both sides of the patient. From the right side of the patient, cardiac massage is performed with the right hand and vice versa.

RESULTS

A total of six patients were identified that suffered cardiac arrest during laparotomy with open CPR performed through the transdiaphragmatic approach. Four patients suffered cardiac arrest during orthotopic liver transplantation and two trauma patients suffered cardiac arrest during damage control laparotomy. In three patients, cardiac activity was never reestablished. However, three patients regained a perfusion heart rhythm and two of these survived to the ICU. One patient ultimately survived to discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients suffering cardiac arrest during laparotomy, the transdiaphragmatic approach allows for a rapid, technically easy, and almost atraumatic access to the heart, with excellent CPR performance. After this potentially life-saving procedure, pulmonary or surgical site complications are expected to occur much less compared with the conventionally performed emergency department left-sided thoracotomy.

Pericardiocentesis in trauma: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Pericardiocentesis (PCC) had been taught as a mandatory skill in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) course as a bridge to definitive surgical therapy for traumatic pericardial tamponade since its inception in 1978. Immediate thoracotomy for penetrating trauma to the heart and chest has resulted in the decreased use of PCC in trauma. PCC is now offered as an optional skill in the ninth edition of the ATLS®. A review of the literature regarding the use and effectiveness of PCC in traumatic pericardial tamponade in the modern era is necessary to better define its current role in trauma care.

METHODS

Scientific publications from 1970 to 2010 involving PCC after trauma were identified. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses was used. Human studies describing acute traumatic tamponade were included. Publications involving nontraumatic or chronic pericardial tamponade from effusions caused by inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic etiology were excluded. Publications were categorized by level of evidence.

RESULTS

Of the 135 publications identified, 27 were included, composing of 2,094 trauma patients with suspected cardiac tamponade. The reported use of PCC decreased from 45.9% of patients in the period 1970 to 1979 down to 6.4% of patients in the period between 2000 and 2010 (p < 0.05). Reported rates describing the use of PCC as the sole intervention decreased from 13.7% in the period 1970 to 1979 to 2.1% in the period 2000 to 2010 (p < 0.05). Survival analysis after PCC was possible for 380 patients. Overall survival following PCC was 83.4% (n = 317) and 91.8% (n = 145) when used as the sole intervention. In patients who received PCC then thoracotomy, survival rate was 79.5% (n = 178).

CONCLUSION

Studies on the use of PCC for trauma are limited and biased toward survivors. The reported survival rate is high. There remains a limited role for PCC in nontrauma centers where definitive surgical management is not immediately available and transport time to a higher level of care facility supports the use of temporary decompression by PCC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic review, level III.

[Intrathoracic injuries]

Severe intrathoracic injuries are uncommon but immediately life-threatening. These injuries are mostly associated with polytrauma. After stabilization of polytraumatized patients imaging is a prerequisite for treatment and operation planning. The assessment warrants an interdisciplinary approach primarily between the specialties of anesthesia, trauma surgery and thoracic surgery and further specialties should be involved depending on the injury pattern. This article gives an overview about the current management of the most important intrathoracic injuries.

Emergency operation for penetrating thoracic trauma in a metropolitan surgical service in South Africa

INTRODUCTION

This audit examines our total experience with penetrating thoracic trauma. It reviews all the patients who were brought alive to our surgical service and all who were taken directly to the mortuary. The group of patients who underwent emergency operation for penetrating thoracic trauma is examined in detail.

METHODOLOGY

A prospective trauma registry is maintained by the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Complex. This database was retrospectively interrogated for all patients requiring an emergency thoracic operation for penetrating injury from July 2006 till July 2009. A retrospective review of mortuary data for the same period was undertaken to identify patients with penetrating thoracic trauma who had been taken to the forensic mortuary.

RESULTS

Over the 3-year period July 2006 to July 2009, a total of 1186 patients, 77 of whom were female, were admitted to the surgical services in Pietermaritzburg with penetrating thoracic trauma. There were 124 gunshot wounds and 1062 stab wounds. A total of 108 (9%) patients required emergency operation during the period under review. The mechanism of trauma in the operative group was stab wounds (n = 102), gunshot wound (n = 4), stab with compass (n = 1), and impalement by falling on an arrow (n = 1). Over the same period 676 persons with penetrating thoracic trauma were taken to the mortuary. There were 135 (20%) gunshot wounds of the chest in the mortuary cohort. The overall mortality for penetrating thoracic trauma was 541 (33%) of 1603 for stab wounds and 135 (52%) of 259 for gunshot wounds of the chest. Among the 541 subjects with stab wounds from the mortuary cohort, there were 206 (38%) with cardiac injuries. In the emergency operation group there were 11 (10%) deaths. In 76 patients a cardiac injury was identified. The other injuries identified were lung parenchyma bleeding (n = 12) intercostal vessels (n = 10), great vessels of the chest (n = 6), internal thoracic vessel (n = 2), and pericardial injury with no myocardial injury (n = 2). Most patients reached the hospital within 60 minutes of sustaining their injury. A subset of 12 patients had much longer delays of 12 to 24 hours. Surgical access was via median sternotomy in 56 patients and lateral thoracotomy in 52. The overall mortality for penetrating cardiac trauma in our series was 217 (76%) of 282.

CONCLUSIONS

Penetrating thoracic trauma has a high mortality rate of 30% for subjects with stab wounds and 52% for those with gunshot wounds. Less than a quarter of patients with a penetrating cardiac injury reach the hospital alive. Of those who do and who are operated on, about 90 percent will survive. Other injuries necessitating emergency operation are lung parenchyma, intercostal vessels and internal thoracic vessels, and great vessels of the thorax. Gunshot wounds of the thorax remain more lethal than stab wounds.

[Diagnostic assessment and treatment concepts for thoracic trauma]

Most patients with chest trauma can be successfully treated with tube thoracostomy and appropriate pain medication. Initial care of these patients is usually straightforward and performed by an emergency doctor or an emergency room surgeon, e.g. a general surgeon. If more extensive therapy of these polytraumatized patients appears to be required, tertiary care should be done in specialized centers or clinics with network structures. An appropriate structured network of surgical centers guarantees sufficient and efficient care of patients with severe chest trauma. In a best-case scenario the specialist disciplines work in a rendezvous system with close cooperation. Early communication with a thoracic surgeon is essential to minimize mortality and long-term morbidity. Improvement in understanding the underlying molecular physiological mechanisms involved in the various traumatic pathological processes and the advancement of diagnostic techniques, minimally invasive approaches and pharmacologic therapy, will contribute to decreasing morbidity of these critically injured patients.

Surgical management of penetrating pulmonary injuries

Chest injuries were reported as early as 3000 BC in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus. Ancient Greek chronicles reveal that they had anatomic knowledge of the thoracic structures. Even in the ancient world, most of the therapeutic modalities for chest wounds and traumatic pulmonary injuries were developed during wartime.

The majority of lung injuries can be managed non-operatively, but pulmonary injuries that require operative surgical intervention can be quite challenging. Recent progress in treating severe pulmonary injuries has relied on finding shorter and simpler lung-sparing techniques. The applicability of stapled pulmonary tractotomy was confirmed as a safe and valuable procedure.

Advancement in technology have revolutionized thoracic surgery and ushered in the era of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), providing an alternative method for accurate and direct evaluation of the lung parenchyma, mediastinum, and diaphragmatic injuries.

The aim of this article is to describe the incidence of the penetrating pulmonary injuries, the ultimate techniques used in its operative management, as well as the diagnosis, complications, and morbidity and mortality.

Emergency thoracotomy in trauma: rationale, risks, and realities

Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) may serve as a life-saving tool when performed for the right indications, in selected patients, and in the hands of a trained surgeon. Critically injured patients 'in extremis' arrive at an increasing rate in the trauma bay, as an effect of improved pre-hospital trauma systems and rapid transport. Any patient in near, or full cardiovascular shock prompts the trauma surgeon to rapidly perform a thoracotomy. The EDT procedure is managed best by surgeons familiar with, and experienced in, penetrating cardiothoracic injuries. However, the geographical differences in trauma epidemiology lends no, or only scarce, experience with this procedure in most European trauma centres. Consequently, mandatory training is imperative for success. The rationale for performing an EDT is to: (I) resuscitate the agonal patient with penetrating cardiothoracic injuries; (II) release cardiac tamponade by evacuation of pericardial blood; (III) immediately control hemorrhage and repair cardiac or pulmonary injury; (IV) perform open cardiac massage; and (V) place a thoracic aortic cross-clamp to redistribute the remaining blood volume, and perfuse the carotids and coronary arteries. The prevalence rates of blood-borne viruses reported in critically injured patients in the USA (10-20%) exceed the prevalence in the Nordic countries (HIV prevalence < 1% in general population). However, risk is not negligible and mandated universal precautions are needed. The literature is rich in series describing the use of EDT, however, the best evidence is derived from a few prospective trials. EDT saves about one in every five patients with isolated penetrating cardiac injury, while > 98% die after blunt injury. Based on an updated review of the current available literature, this paper presents the current evidence regarding the rationale, risk, and outcomes for employing EDT in the field of trauma surgery.

Thoracic trauma: when and how to intervene

Trauma is the leading cause of death in patients younger than 40 years of age. Thoracic injuries are common and often can be managed by tube thoracostomy. In many patients, however, the thoracic injuries must be repaired surgically in one of three time periods: immediate, urgent, or delayed thoracotomy. In this article, we describe the general approach to effectively managing thoracic trauma patients. We review common injuries and scenarios that may be encountered by the surgeon and discuss the considerations and variables that enter into the decision-making process for operative intervention.

Overview of Thoracic Trauma in the United States

Most patients with injuries to the chest (approximately 75%) can usually be managed expectantly with simple tube thoracostomy and volume resuscitation [1,11,21-24]. As a result, initial care of these patients is usually straightforward and often performed adequately by emergency room physicians and general surgeons. Tertiary care of these patients is often multidisciplinary in nature, however, and communication with the thoracic surgeon is essential to minimize mortality and long-term morbidity. Improvement in the understanding of the underlying molecular physiologic mechanisms involved in the various traumatic pathologic processes, and the advancement of diagnostic techniques, minimally invasive approaches, and pharmacologic therapy, all continue to contribute to decreasing the morbidity and mortality of these critically injured patients.

Penetrating Cardiac Injuries: Recent Experience in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Penetrating cardiac injury is a dramatic and lethal form of trauma. The majority of patients will die before reaching medical care, but for those who arrive at hospital alive, the diagnostic acumen and rapid surgical intervention of physicians and surgeons can lead to successful outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A structured diagnostic and management approach is used in our trauma unit to deal with penetrating cardiac injury. A retrospective study of 117 patients with penetrating trauma to the heart was conducted over 32 months; the purpose of this study was to describe our protocol and review overall outcome with this type of injury. Demographic details, mechanism of injury, and mode of presentation were recorded. Mortality and morbidity data were collated and echocardiographic follow-up was performed.

RESULTS

There were 109 male patients, mean age 29 years (range: 15-54 years) and 8 female patients, mean age 35 years (range: 23-56 years). Most patients (96/117) had sustained stab wounds, and the associated mortality was 15.6%. Twenty-one patients had sustained gunshot wounds (GSW), with a mortality of 81%. Gunshot wounds were significantly more likely to result in death (P<or=0.0001). Five patients sustained multiple cardiac wounds, and three of them died. The risk of death was not different between patients sustaining single or multiple cardiac wounds (P=0.11). Eleven patients had thoracoabdominal injury, and 3/11 (27%) died; all of those that died had sustained GSW. The risk of death was not different between patients sustaining thoracoabdominal wounds and those with isolated thoracic injury (P=1.0). Among the 51 patients with stab wounds who presented with cardiac tamponade, the mortality was only 8%. Compared to the other patients with stab wounds, cardiac tamponade conferred a significant survival advantage (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

A high index of suspicion for penetrating cardiac injury and an understanding of the modes of presentation can lead to rapid diagnosis even by inexperienced junior staff. Such a structured approach to patients with penetrating trauma to the chest leads to early definitive management and acceptable results.

Haemopericardium in stable patients after penetrating injury: is subxiphoid pericardial window and drainage enough? A prospective study

AIM

This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate whether stable patients with haemopericardium could safely be managed with subxiphoid pericardial window (SPW) and drainage only.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From July to December 2001, all stable patients with haemopericardium diagnosed by SPW, who did not have immediate active bleeding, were subjected to sternotomy to grade the injury using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST)-cardiac injury score. The data of all patients with penetrating cardiac injuries for the year 2001 is presented to place into perspective the spectrum of cardiac injuries seen.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients qualified for inclusion into the study. Ten (71.4%) patients had Grade I-III cardiac injuries. These could have safely been managed by SPW and drainage alone. The remaining four patients with Grade IV injuries showed no active bleeding at the time of sternotomy. During the first half of the year, seven patients diagnosed with haemopericardium were managed with SPW and drainage only. These seven patients showed no procedure-related complications and were well at 2-week follow-up. Ten patients presented with acute cardiac tamponade. There was a single death in the latter group.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary prospective study, though limited by small numbers, shows that 10/14 (71%) of stable patients with haemopericardium had unnecessary non-therapeutic sternotomy and could have safely been managed with SPW and drainage only. Further prospective, randomised studies are required to confirm the good outlook.

Endovascular repair of accidental ligation of the right coronary artery during cardiorrhaphy for penetrating heart wound

We report a patient with a cardiac penetrating wound who underwent cardiorrhaphy which resulted in accidental ligation of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA), producing a postoperative acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. Although the option of surgical relief of the suture over the RCA was discussed, a repeat operation was considered to be of very high risk. Therefore, an endovascular attempt to recanalize the vessel was chosen. The external constriction around the RCA was successfully relieved with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stenting. To our knowledge, this particular situation has not yet previously been published.

Trauma to cardiac valves

Cardiorrhaphy is a relatively common procedure performed in a trauma center. However, there is a subgroup of patients with more complicated cardiac injuries such as coronary artery injuries, septal defects, and valvular injuries. Cardiac valvular injuries are often diagnosed subacutely when a new murmur is heard. Transesophageal echocardiography has been increasingly performed to diagnosis these injuries and may be helpful intraoperatively. Cardiac catheterization may be indicated in selected patients. Techniques to address these injuries may involve repair or prosthetic replacement. A high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose these relatively rare injuries.

The management of stab wounds to the heart with laceration of the left anterior descending coronary artery

Penetrating cardiac injuries are an increasing cause of traumatic deaths in urban areas. The management of these injuries has undergone a transition from simple pericardiocentesis to cardiac ultrasound evaluation in the stable patient, and emergency thoracotomy and repair of myocardial wounds in the unstable patient in extremes. The incidence of traumatic coronary artery injury is not accurately known because not all victims are examined. With the improvement in emergency medical services, including speed of transportation of these patients, better resuscitation, and knowledgeable use of cardiac ultrasound or emergency room thoracotomy, more patients with coronary artery injuries will survive and reach the operating room. The operative management of the injured coronary artery is dependant on the location of the injury and whether there is myocardial dysfunction. Distal injuries with small myocardial infarction should be treated by ligation alone. Proximal injury and those injuries associate with larger area of ischaemia or infarction are best treated with coronary artery bypass. The role of cardiopulmonary bypass pump in these patients should be evaluated depending on the homodynamic stability of the patient. We present two cases of cardiac stab wounds with transection of the left anterior descending (LAD), which were successfully managed. A literature review regarding the management of combined cardiac and coronary artery injuries is also provided.

The use of adenosine for repair of penetrating cardiac injuries: a novel method

The use of intravenous administration of adenosine to expedite cardiorrhaphy in penetrating cardiac trauma by inducing temporary asystole is described. It is quicker, more effective, and safer than the traditional methods.

Imaging of penetrating thoracic trauma

The management of penetrating chest injuries has evolved significantly over the past few years, with an increasing emphasis on less invasive diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Only 15% of patients need a therapeutic operative procedure. The challenge is to detect and treat these injuries rapidly while maximizing the use of noninvasive examinations and decreasing costs. The areas potentially at risk for injury include the heart, major vessels, thoracoabdomen, neck, spine, and aerodigestive tract. A review of injuries to these areas, including the use of new diagnostic modalities such as echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) scans, are discussed.

Current evaluation of cardiac stab wounds

BACKGROUND

Patients with penetrating cardiac injuries may be stable or only mildly shocked, especially if the laceration has sealed off and the patient has been aggressively resuscitated. Clinical signs, chest roentgenograms, pericardiocentesis, and subxiphoid window are not always helpful in establishing the diagnosis. We reflect on the current evaluation based on 128 patients.

METHODS

There were four groups of patients, ranging from lifeless (group I) to stable (group IV). Patients in groups I and II were prepared immediately for operation. Those in groups III and IV were often investigated further (chest roentgenogram and cardiac ultrasound).

RESULTS

Mortality was 8%. Significant findings were a precordial stab, central venous pressure of more than 15 cm of water, one or more clinical signs of tamponade, and initial shock. Cardiac ultrasound was performed in 5 patients in group II (15%), 14 patients in group III (48%), and 37 patients in group IV (86%). There were no false positives, and 6 false negatives (11%). Thirty-one patients (24%) had clotted lacerations. There were no negative sternotomies.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficient fluid resuscitation and rapid confirmation of diagnosis with cardiac ultrasound should decrease mortality. Stable patients with a precordial wound should undergo cardiac ultrasound or echocardiogram. Diagnosis may be reliably confirmed in these patients whose clinical signs often fluctuate (or rapidly deteriorate).

One hundred five penetrating cardiac injuries: a 2-year prospective evaluation

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the parameters measured in the field, during transport, and upon arrival of the physiologic condition of patients sustaining penetrating cardiac injuries, along with the Cardiovascular Respiratory Score (CVRS) component of the Trauma Score, the mechanism and anatomical site of injury, operative characteristics, and cardiac rhythm as predictors of outcome. We also set out to identify a set of patient characteristics that best predict mortality outcome and to correlate cardiac injury grade as determined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale (AAST-OIS) with mortality.

METHODS

This report was a prospective study at American College of Surgeons Level I urban trauma center. Interventions included thoracotomy, sternotomy, or both, for resuscitation and definitive repair of cardiac injury. The main outcome measures used were those parameters measuring physiologic condition of patients, CVRS, mechanism and anatomical site of injury, mortality, and grade of injury.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients sustained penetrating cardiac injuries: 68 injuries (65%) were gunshot wounds and 37 injuries (35%) were stab wounds. The mean Injury Severity Score was 36. Of the 105 wounds, 23 wounds (22%) involved multiple-chamber injuries. The overall survival was 35 of 105 patients (33%): survival of gunshot wound victims was 11 of 68 patients (16%); survival of stab wound victims was 24 of 37 patients (65%). Emergency department thoracotomy was performed in 71 of the 105 patients (68%) with 10 survivors (14%). CVRS: 94% mortality (50 of 53) when CVRS = 0, 89% mortality (57 of 64) when CVRS = 0 to 3, and 31% mortality (12 of 39) when CVRS 4 to 11 (p < 0.001). The presence of sinus rhythm when pericardium was opened predicted survival (p < 0.001). Anatomical site of injury (injured chamber) and the presence of tamponade did not predict survival. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified gunshot wound, exsanguination, and restoration of blood pressure as most predictive variables of mortality. AAST-OIS injury grade and mortality: grade I, 0 of 1 (0%); grade II, 1 of 2 (50%); grade III, 2 of 3 (66%); grade IV, 28 of 50 (56%); grade V, 29 of 38 (76%); grade VI, 10 of 11 (91%). Overall incidence: grades IV-VI, 99 of 105 (94%).

CONCLUSIONS

Parameters measuring physiologic condition, CVRS, and mechanism of injury are significant predictors of outcome in penetrating cardiac injuries. AAST-OIS injury grades I-III are rare in penetrating cardiac trauma. AAST-OIS Injury grades IV-VI are common in penetrating cardiac trauma and accurately predict outcome.

Acquired ventricular septal defect and mitral insufficiency without pericardial effusion after stab wound to the chest

Echocardiography has a role in the management of acute complications of penetrating cardiac trauma. We report the case of a 30-year-old man who sustained a stab wound to the chest. In this case a traumatic perforation of the ventricular septum and the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve caused by a knife occurred without pericardial effusion. The diagnosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography. The ability of transesophageal echocardiography to delineate the intracardiac injuries more precisely helped to guide the surgical procedure.