Two-dimensional echocardiogram in hemodynamically stable victims of penetrating precordial trauma

Hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating precordial trauma present a diagnostic dilemma. Previous reports utilizing subxiphoid pericardial windows as the diagnostic measure demonstrated negative rates ranging from 75-82%. In an effort to decrease the high rate of negative invasive procedures, the following study was undertaken.

All hemodynamically stable victims with penetrating precordial trauma were evaluated using emergent echocardiogram over a one year period at Grady Memorial Hospital. If the echocardiogram was negative for the presence of pericardial fluid, the patient was observed for 24 hours. If pericardial fluid was detected, the patient underwent a subxiphoid pericardial window. Patients requiring immediate surgery for other reasons, i.e. peritonitis, underwent a pericardial window during the procedure without preoperative echocardiogram.

Fifty-three patients were entered into the study. The injuries sustained included 40 stab wounds, 11 gunshot wounds and 2 shotgun injuries. Two echocardiograms (8%) demonstrated > 20cc of fluid and were followed by pericardial windows. The remaining 51 patients did well without the need for pericardial window. Nine additional hemodynamically stable patients underwent pericardial windows without preoperative echocardiograms. Only one of these was positive with a cardiac injury proven at sternotomy.

Echocardiogram is a sensitive noninvasive method of evaluating hemodynamically stable victims of penetrating chest wounds in proximity to the heart.