“…The role of general surgeons in heart trauma, in the era of modern cardiac surgery Several authors published results of specialized centers in managing heart wounds, combining interventional, radiologic and also surgical approach [19][20][21][22]. It is obvious that diagnosis that is made swiftly and very early, with an organized and available heart team (interventional cardiologists, radiologists and cardiac surgeons), which are available in specialized centers, provide favorable results [4,22]. In some parts of the world, where trauma and cardiothoracic surgeons are not easily available, penetrating thoracic trauma is becoming more frequent, also the need for thoracotomy [10,23].…”