title: Penetrating wounds of the heart and pericardium.
abstract: Fifty-seven patients with penetrating cardiac or pericardial trauma were treated at the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, University of Stellenbosch at the Tygerberg Hospital during a 6 1/2 year period from June 1971 to January 1978. Eleven patients were treated by aspiration alone because tamponade was mild, or because they were seen between 24 hours and 3 weeks after injury. Six patients underwent late elective surgery. Cardiopulmonary bypass had to be employed in four patients to correct intracardiac lesions. All other patients underwent emergency operations 8 minutes to 2 hours after admission to hospital. The hospital mortality was 4 of 57 patients (7%), lower than rates reported in other series. Some selected cases will be described more fully and our present plan of management is outlined.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000293:injuries*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*