title: [Management of penetrating cardiac injuries].
abstract: Penetrating cardiac injury is often fatal. Patients present with a variety of clinical patterns, from a stable patient but with an insidious course, to those admitted with waning vital signs. In all cases prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial. A series of 98 cases is presented, emphasizing the problems in diagnosing this condition and recommending the way such patients should be triaged and treated.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Service, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaked
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golocovsky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harviel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014218:Triage; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*