• Celalettin Gunay, Faruk Cingoz, Erkan Kuralay, Ufuk Demirkilic, and Harun Tatar.
• Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
• Heart Surg Forum. 2007 Jan 1;10(6):E473-7.

UnlabelledThe aim of this clinical study is to assess the characteristics of penetrating heart injury and its surgical challenges for urgent surgical approach.Materials And MethodsSeventeen patients suffering from penetrating heart wounds were evaluated retrospectively in the department of cardiovascular surgery between 1996 and 2004. All patients were male, with ages ranging from 19 to 36 years, with a mean age of 23.6 +/- 5 years.ResultsMedian sternotomy, left anterior thoracotomy, and right anterior thoracotomy were performed to control the bleeding or to reach the heart for internal cardiac massage in 5, 11 and, 1 control, respectively. The right ventricle was the most commonly injured chamber (64.7%, n = 12), followed by left ventricle (17.7%, n = 4), and right atrium (17.6%, n = 3); a left atrial injury was not seen. Mortality rate was 29% (5 cases), and 12 controls were discharged without any complications.ConclusionAlthough the most important factor affecting mortality in penetrating heart injuries is rapid transport, an urgent approach applied by a specialist team can decrease potential mortality and morbidity rates.

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