Delayed Presentation of Cardiac Injury after a Penetrating Stab Wound to the Chest

Abstract

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Delayed presentation of cardiac injury four weeks after stabbing

“…If clinical suspicion is high, operative management should not be delayed and is reasonable even in the setting of normal imaging. 5 Clinical suspicion and effective utilization of imaging techniques can lead to timely diagnosis and positive outcomes in a commonly fatal setting.…”

“…1 Therefore, delayed presentation following penetrating cardiac injury is rare. 5 Only one other case has been reported in the literature, with a delay of two months. 6 Penetrating chest wounds warrant a high index of suspicion of cardiac injury.…”