Chest compressions for a patient in cardiac arrest after penetrating trauma with a knife still in situ.
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.
McCarthy
Thomas
T
Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Rd, Boston, Lincolnshire,UK. tmccarthy@doctors.org.uk
Lassota-Korba
Bozena
B
O'Leary
Tony
T
Knight
Richard
R
Murphy
Paul
P
Pandey
Rajesh
R
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