• Thomas Lustenberger, Peep Talving, Lydia Lam, Kenji Inaba, Shahin Mohseni, Jennifer Ann Smith, and Demetrios Demetriades.
• Division of Acute Care Surgery (Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care), Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
• J. Pediatr. Surg. 2013 Apr 1; 48 (4): 745-9.

BackgroundPenetrating cardiac injuries in pediatric patients are rarely encountered. Likewise, the in-hospital outcome measures following these injuries are poorly described.MethodsAll pediatric patients (<18years) sustaining penetrating cardiac injuries between 1/2000 and 12/2010 were retrospectively identified using the trauma registry of an urban level I trauma center. Demographic and admission variables, operative findings, and hospital course were extracted. Outpatient follow-up data were obtained through chart reviews and cardiac-specific imaging studies.ResultsDuring the 11-year study period, 32 of the 4569 pediatric trauma admissions (0.7%) sustained penetrating cardiac injuries. All patients were male and the majority suffered stab wounds (81.2%). The mean systolic blood pressure on admission was 28.8±52.9mmHg and the mean ISS was 46.9±27.7. Cardiac chambers involved were the right ventricle (46.9%), the left ventricle (43.8%), and the right atrium (18.8%). Overall, 9 patients (28.1%) survived to hospital discharge. Outpatient follow-up echocardiography was available for 4 patients (44.4%). An abnormal echocardiography result was found in 1 patient, demonstrating hypokinesia and tricuspid regurgitation.ConclusionsPenetrating cardiac trauma is a rare injury in the pediatric population. Cardiac chambers predominantly involved are the right and left ventricles. This injury is associated with a low in-hospital survival (<30%).Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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