Penetrating Cardiac Injury from Crossbow Successfully Treated With Cardiac Autotransplantation

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Penetrating cardiac injuries pose significant management challenges.
• Self-inflicted injuries require complex surgical decision-making.
• Management of great vessel and cardiac structure damage necessitates advanced techniques.

Observation:

• A middle-aged male presented with a rare, severe penetrating cardiac injury.
• The injury involved two crossbow bolts impacting multiple cardiac structures and great vessels.
• Immediate surgical intervention was critical for survival.

Findings:

• Successful treatment involved peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass and median sternotomy.
• Hypothermic circulatory arrest facilitated complex intracardiac repairs.
• Heart autotransplantation was performed for comprehensive injury management and repair.

Implications:

• This case highlights the feasibility of complex cardiac repair in severe penetrating trauma.
• Advanced surgical strategies can achieve positive outcomes in life-threatening cardiac injuries.
• The successful autotransplantation demonstrates its utility in managing extensive cardiac damage.