title: Cardiac Trauma.
abstract: Cardiac trauma is a leading cause of death in the United States and occurs mostly due to motor vehicle accidents. Blunt cardiac trauma and penetrating chest injuries are most common, and both can lead to aortic injuries. Timely diagnosis and early management are the key to improve mortality. Cardiac computed tomography and cardiac ultrasound are the 2 most important diagnostic modalities. Mortality related to cardiac trauma remains high despite improvement in diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Cardiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Sucheta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gosavi
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tyroch
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D001027:Aortography; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071956:Myocardial Contusions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aortic injuries; blunt trauma; cardiac CT; cardiac ultrasound; penetrating chest injuries