title: Chest compressions for a patient in cardiac arrest after penetrating trauma with a knife still in situ.
abstract: A 45-year-old man was brought by ambulance to the emergency department. He was in shock, with a knife handle protruding from his abdomen. His pulse became undetectable. With the knife still in situ, external cardiac massage was provided on immediate transfer to the operating theatre. Resuscitation and haemostasis were achieved and the patient was eventually discharged from hospital. This case report discusses the risks of chest compressions for trauma patients with a penetrating weapon still in situ.
authors.affiliation: Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Rd, Boston, Lincolnshire,UK. tmccarthy@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lassota-Korba
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006336:Heart Massage / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery