[Penetrating cardiac trauma. A nine-years experience in Cancún, Mexico].
BACKGROUND
Early patient intubations, rapid transportation, thoracotomy in the emergency room, and tamponade are the main reasons why patients with cardiac trauma survive at present. This paper describes the experience with cardiac trauma in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, during period of 9 years by general surgeons.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study at three regional hospital of 25 patients described by percentages and average.


RESULTS
During a 9 year period, 25 patients were studied, all male, ages ranged from 18-39 years; 11 had right ventricle lesion, nine had left ventricle trauma, two of left atrium, and one case each of right atrium, superior vena cava, and superior left vein. No coronary lesions were observed. Four patients had post-traumatic pericarditis. Mortality was 20% (five patients).


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac trauma presents in a wide range of clinical situations. Tamponade was observed as a positive prognostic factor, mortality was due to principally lesions caused by firearms and to ascending aorta trauma. Extracorporeal circulation pump is rarely required.
Acuña-Prats
Rafael
R
Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Angeles de las Lomas, Cons. 565, Vitalidad s/n. Huixquilucan, Edo. de Mexico.
García-Salazar
Dionisio
D
Velasco-Marín
Rafael
R
Torre-Cortés
René
R
Chávez-Ramos
Jorge
J
Cervera-López
Manuel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult