title: Cardiac surgery take-away kit.
abstract: 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.
authors: Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Ramnarine
authors: Maninder
authors: M
authors: Kalkat
authors: John A C
authors: JA
authors: Chalmers
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Rooney
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Graham
mesh_terms: 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*
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