Objective: To assess the management of penetrating cardiac injuries.
Methods: 56 patients with penetrating wounds of the heart were studied retrospectively. The study lasted for 11 years.
Results: Stab wounds accounted for 89.3% of the 56 patients. 56 patients underwent thoracotomy. Preoperative infusion was less than 1,000 ml in 68% of the patients. Preoperative pericardiocentesis was done only in 2 patients, of whom one was false negative. Four patients with cardiac arrest soon after arrival were subjected to emergency thoracotomy; three survived. After the operation, 2 patients died of associated abdominal injuries and failure of cerebral resuscitation. The overall survival rate was 96.4%.
Conclusions: Early diagnosis and prompt thoracotomy are essential to the treatment of penetrating cardiac injuries. Preoperative massive transfusion and pericardiocentesis are not advocated.