title: Cardiac and Pulmonary Injury.
abstract: Cardiac and pulmonary injuries present major challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Distinct differences between penetrating and blunt trauma of these organs exist. Outcomes for severe injuries are still grave. Organized trauma systems can provide optimal care by minimizing prehospital time, allowing easy access to imaging modalities, and offering state-of-the-art treatment strategies. A multidisciplinary approach, including surgeons, intensivists, and others, is absolutely necessary.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. gvelmahos@partners.org.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Velmahos
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammad U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Butt
keywords: Blunt trauma; Cardiac trauma; Gunshot wound; Penetrating trauma; Pulmonary trauma