• J M Baker, F D Battistella, E Kraut, J T Owings, and D M Follette.
• Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Health System, Sacramento 95817-2214, USA.
• Arch Surg Chicago. 1998 Aug 1; 133 (8): 855-60.

BackgroundThe need for cardiopulmonary bypass in the treatment of penetrating heart injuries is debated.ObjectivesTo review our experience with penetrating heart injuries and determine the indications and outcome for cardiopulmonary bypass.DesignRetrospective review.SettingA university-based, level I trauma center.PatientsAll victims of penetrating heart injury presenting between July 1, 1989, and December 31, 1995.MethodsMedical records were reviewed for demographic and physiological data, operative findings, and outcome.ResultsOverall survival for 106 patients with penetrating heart injury was 55%. In an effort to resuscitate the heart, 4 patients with unresponsive cardiogenic shock were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass; none survived. Of 30 patients with multiple-chamber injuries, 11 presented with signs of life and 7 survived. Cardiopulmonary bypass was essential to repair complex injuries in 2 of the 7 survivors.ConclusionCardiopulmonary bypass was ineffective in salvaging patients with cardiogenic shock but was essential in some patients with complex multiple-chamber cardiac injuries that could not be exposed and repaired by other means.

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