title: [Heart injuries: diagnosis and therapy].
abstract: The clinical manifestation of wounds of the heart is determined by the mode, site and size of the injury as well as the structure of the pericardial and myocardial lesion. Diagnosis can be confirmed by ECG and echocardiography. Only 20% of the patients with penetrating wounds of the heart live for more than 30 minutes. Pericardio-centesis should be used only to gain time for a safe sternotomy, cardiac decompression and suture of the wound of the heart. An aggressive surgical approach is mandatory. Cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary only to correct of concomitant lesions.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz- und Gefässchirurgie Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hehrlein
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dapper
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*