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Effect of cardiac stabbing on ventricular function: evaluation by radionuclide angiography
E D Skarsgard1, P T Phang, A S Belzberg
1Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien De Chirurgie
|October 1, 1993
Summary
Survivors of cardiac stab wounds may have reduced right ventricular function (RVEF). However, this dysfunction is typically minor and does not cause apparent symptoms, with most patients recovering well.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac stab wounds are severe injuries requiring prompt surgical intervention.
- Early assessment of ventricular function is crucial for managing patients post-injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate early ventricular dysfunction following cardiac stab wounds.
- To correlate ventricular function with clinical outcomes in survivors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of nine consecutive survivors of cardiac stab wounds.
- Postoperative radionuclide angiography to assess right and left ventricular ejection fractions (RVEF and LVEF).
- Clinical data correlation with ventricular function measurements.
Main Results:
- Reduced RVEF was observed in six of nine patients, while LVEF remained normal.
- No patient exhibited clinically apparent cardiac dysfunction at the time of angiography.
- Postoperative complications included dysrhythmias and pericarditis; most patients were asymptomatic at discharge.
Conclusions:
- Reduced RVEF is a common finding in survivors of cardiac stab wounds.
- This reduction in RVEF is generally small and not associated with overt clinical cardiac dysfunction.
- Ventricular function may improve over time, though persistent right ventricular enlargement can occur.