Citation

Jebara VA, Saadé B. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1989; 47(2): 250-253.

Affiliation

Division of Thoracic and Cardio-vascular Surgery, Hôtel-Dieu de France, Université Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2919909

Abstract

Forty-nine war casualties with penetrating cardiac wounds were treated at the Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital between April 1975 and December 1987. All the wounds were caused by high-velocity missiles. An aggressive approach was utilized. Emergency room thoracotomy was performed in 17 "lifeless" patients, 4 of whom survived. Twenty-seven of the 32 patients who were in stable enough condition to undergo initial repair in the operating room survived. Overall survival was 63% (31/49). No intracardiac injuries were diagnosed in survivors, and no cardiac reoperations were required. Careful analysis of the trajectory of the missile or missiles and a portable chest roentgenogram were the most important factors for diagnosing a penetrating wound to the heart and for predicting potential associated injuries.

Language: en