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[Heart injuries: diagnosis and therapy]
1Klinik für Herz- und Gefässchirurgie Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen.
Insights
Penetrating heart wounds are often fatal, with only 20% surviving over 30 minutes. Immediate surgical intervention, including sternotomy and wound repair, is crucial for survival in cardiac trauma patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
Abstract:
The clinical manifestation of wounds of the heart is determined by the mode, site and size of the injury as well as the structure of the pericardial and myocardial lesion. Diagnosis can be confirmed by ECG and echocardiography. Only 20% of the patients with penetrating wounds of the heart live for more than 30 minutes. Pericardio-centesis should be used only to gain time for a safe sternotomy, cardiac decompression and suture of the wound of the heart. An aggressive surgical approach is mandatory. Cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary only to correct of concomitant lesions.