Cardiac surgery take-away kit.
BACKGROUND
Trauma to the heart is usually rapidly fatal, but survival can be improved with timely and appropriate surgical management. However, certain injuries require specialist cardiothoracic surgical intervention.


METHODS
Three patients with coronary artery lacerations treated by cardiac surgeons at remote hospitals are presented. The recent literature, the current treatment options available and suggestions on techniques to improve survival are reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
Laceration of the coronary arteries is difficult to manage, especially in the absence of specialty equipment. Appropriate protocols should be established to provide this service in order to optimise the management of patients with complicated trauma. A cardiac surgical take-away kit could facilitate the management of these difficult patients in a setting remote from the cardiac operating room.
Ramnarine
Ian
I
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK.
Kalkat
Maninder
M
Chalmers
John A C
JA
Rooney
Stephen
S
Graham
Timothy
T
D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000601:surgery*
Eur J Emerg Med. 2001 Dec;8(4):321-3
11785602
Surgery. 1975 Dec;78(6):755-60
1188618
Ann Thorac Surg. 1976 Nov;22(5):436-42
999368
Emerg Med J. 2006 Jul;23(7):580-1
16794113
J Trauma. 1992 Nov;33(5):773-5
1464931
Circulation. 2006 Jul 4;114(1 Suppl):I10-5
16820556
J Trauma. 1983 Dec;23(12):1034-41
6655748