[Traumatic complications of indirect cardiac massage]

The author analyzed injuries in 238 subjects where before death indirect cardiac massage was applied by skilled health workers. The ribs were fractures in 27.7% and the sternum in 16% of the deceased, injuries of other organs were detected 13 times (5.5%). In women injuries were more frequent and fractures of the sternum markedly more frequent than in men. While in men rib fractures on the left side were more frequent than on the rights side, in women this difference was not observed. Rib fractures were mostly in the medioclavicular line at the level of the 3rd-5th rib. The fractures of the sternum were also most frequently at the level between the 3rd and 5th rib. No fractures of the 10th-12th rib were found. The author observed an age-depunende cy of rib fractures in men and women, while fractures of the sternum were age-dependent only in men. There was no relationship with age as regards injuries of other organs. Only in two deceased subjects the injury which developed during indirect cardiac massage was the immediate cause of death. Once it was rupture of the interval mammary vein with haemorrhage into the mediastinum and haemorrhage into the chest, in the other case rupture of the right ventricle with cardiac tamponade.