[Successful conservative treatment after accidental stab wound to the chest]

A five year-old girl was admitted to hospital following an accidental stab wound to the chest, inflicted by a knife placed in a dishwasher's cutlery tray. Investigations revealed a traumatic ventricular septum defect of the heart, with a pericardial effusion. Since the patient remained haemodynamically stable, surgical intervention was considered unnecessary. At the first follow-up, an echocardiogram showed no visible pericardial effusion. At ten month follow-up, she showed initial symptoms of cardiac failure, and a renewed echocardiogram revealed a new pericardial effusion. It is important to perform long-term follow-up on patients with traumatic chest wounds.