Outcomes of Penetrating Cardiac Injuries – A Cardiac Surgeon Approach to 22 Cases

Abstract

Aim: Cardiac traumas are of great danger as they have life threatening potential. Although the patient may have normal vital signs at the time of admission the rate of mortality rate has been reported up to 69%. We believe that conducting the initial evaluation and early intervention by a cardiac surgeon may have an impact on decreased mortality. Material and methods: This study has been conducted with 22 patients that have been admitted with cardiac trauma history. The subjects who were operated after applying to emergency service have been enrolled in this retrospective analysis. İndividuals died due to cardiac arrest at admission have been excluded from the study. The subjects with penetrating cardiac injury who have undergone sternotomy or thoracotomy has been included in the analysis. Results: At the time of admission 4 patients has been presented with shock and 2 patients had been administered resuscitation due to cardiac arrest. The gun shot wound cases were 27% (n=6) and of these cases 3 of them were alive while the remaining 3 died. The stab wound cases were 73% (n=16) withh a higher survival rate of 75% (n=4/16). Thoracotomy has been conducted less than sternotomy as the rate was 13.6% (n=3) versus 86.4% (n=19). The overall rate of mortality has been found as 32% (n=7). Conclusıon: According to the results of this study one can say that conducting initial intervention to cardiac trauma patients by a cardiac surgeon reduced the rate of mortality and morbidity.