Resumo

GOMEZ C, GONZALO  e  HOLA B, JOSÉ. Penetrating cardiac trauma. Review of 36 operated patients. Rev Chil Cir [online]. 2009, vol.61, n.5, pp. 453-457. ISSN 0718-4026.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-40262009000500010.

Background: The most common cause of cardiac penetrating trauma is wounds caused by knives or firearms. Aim: To review the operated cases of penetrating cardiac trauma in a public hospital emergency room. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients operated for penetrating cardiac trauma between 1986 and 2009. Results: We retrieved the records of 36 patients (33 males) with a median age of 30 years. Ninety four percent of lesions were cause by knife wounds. In 24 patients, the right ventncle was injured. Immediate surgical mortality was 17% and 22% of patients had complications. Conclusions: Surgical mortality in penetrating cardiac trauma is related to the delay of surgical correction, injury by firearms or the presence of complex lesions.

Palavras-chave : Cardiac trauma; knife wound; cardiac surgery.