[Retrospective analysis of the patients with penetrating cardiac trauma].
BACKGROUND
Penetrating cardiac stab wounds are among rarely seen traumas, associated with high mortality. We aimed to present and investigate our experience in such cases.


METHODS
Eighteen cases with penetrating cardiac stab wounds, between 1993-2001, were investigated retrospectively. Gender, age, conditions at application, injured areas, extent of cardiac damage, accompanying organ damages and outcomes of these patients were studied.


RESULTS
All patients were male with a mean age of 25.38 years (between 16-42 years). Heart was the only affected organ in nine 9 patients, whereas there were additional organ injuries in the remaining patients. The injuries were at left ventricle in 11, right ventricle in 4 and right atrium in three patients. Only two patients survived among 14 patients who developed cardiac arrest. There was additional organ damage in three of the six survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall mortality was 66%. Suspect of cardiac injury should be considered in patients who are injured close around cardiac area and one should intervene quickly both in diagnosis and treatment.
Arikan
Soykan
S
Haseki Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi, Acil Cerrahi Kliniği, Istanbul, Turkey. soykanarikan@yahoo.com
Yücel
Ahmet Fikret
AF
Kocakuşak
Ahmet
A
Dadük
Yildiray
Y
Adaş
Gökhan
G
Onal
Mehmet Ali
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology