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Trauma to the heart
1Section of Thoracic Surgery, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, USA.
Insights
Traumatic heart injuries are survivable due to rapid transport and expert trauma surgeons. Most cardiac injuries can be repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Trauma Care
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic cardiac injury historically carried a high mortality rate.
- Advances in emergency medical services and surgical techniques have evolved treatment paradigms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the improved survival rates for traumatic heart injuries.
- To emphasize the feasibility of repairing most cardiac injuries without cardiopulmonary bypass.
Main Methods:
- Review of outcomes for patients with penetrating and blunt cardiac trauma.
- Analysis of surgical repair techniques, focusing on those not requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.
Main Results:
- Significant survival rates are now achievable for both penetrating and blunt cardiac injuries.
- The majority of traumatic heart injuries can be successfully treated by thoracic surgical trauma specialists without cardiopulmonary bypass.
Conclusions:
- Traumatic cardiac injury is manageable and no longer a definitive death sentence.
- Thoracic surgical expertise is crucial for the successful, non-bypass treatment of these injuries.
Abstract:
Traumatic injury to the heart is no longer a death sentence. Efficient urban transport systems and surgeons who are expert in trauma care combine to achieve meaningful survival rates after both penetrating and blunt violations of the heart. Almost all cases of injury to the heart can be repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass and, therefore, are within the purview of the thoracic surgical trauma specialist.