title: Understanding traumatic blunt cardiac injury.
abstract: Cardiac injuries are classified as blunt and penetrating injuries. In both the injuries, the major issue is missing the diagnosis and high mortality. Blunt cardiac injuries (BCI) are much more common than penetrating injuries. Aiming at a better understanding of BCI, we searched the literature from January 1847 to January 2012 by using MEDLINE and EMBASE search engines. Using the key word "Blunt Cardiac Injury," we found 1814 articles; out of which 716 articles were relevant. Herein, we review the causes, diagnosis, and management of BCI. In conclusion, traumatic cardiac injury is a major challenge in critical trauma care, but the guidelines are lacking. A high index of suspicion, application of current diagnostic protocols, and prompt and appropriate management is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. aymanco65@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Menyar
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Thani
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarour
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latifi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers