title: Blunt cardiac injury.
abstract: Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is a common complication of chest trauma. With improvements in pre-hospital care and rapid regional transport, more patients with severe BCI may arrive at the hospital with signs of life. Prompt recognition and expeditious surgical and critical care treatment may increase the number of survivors. This paper reviews current clinical considerations in dealing with patients suffering BCI.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit Liverpool Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. m.parr@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: M J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Parr
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*