[Penetrating cardiac injuries: assessment of 21 patients]

Penetrating cardiac injuries carry high mortality rates due to serious clinical outcomes. This study was planned to investigate patients treated surgically in our hospital for penetrating cardiac injury.

In this article, we reviewed retrospectively 21 patients (18 male, 3 female) suffering from penetrating heart injuries who admitted to our hospital between February 2006 and January 2011. Patients were evaluated with respect to clinical findings, treatment methods and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Among the patients, 19 cases were due to stab injury and 2 cases to gunshot injury. Emergent surgical interventions were performed in all patients. Cardiac injuries involved the right ventricle in 13 patients, left ventricle in 5 patients and right atrium in 3 patients. There was no left atrial injury. Cardiac injuries were repaired by primary suturing method. Mortality was determined in 6 patients (28.6%).

Penetrating cardiac injuries are seen generally in young people. Early transport, proper resuscitation and emergent surgery treatment improved survival in patients who sustained penetrating cardiac injuries.