Int Surg
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A total of 72 patients with penetrating cardiac injuries were treated at Teaching Hospital in Basrah from February 1984 to July 1988. All patients were males, ages ranged between 18-40 years. 67 patients (93%) had sustained shell fragment injuries and 5 patients (6.9%) bullet wounds. 13 patients were unconscious on arrival and had no detectable pulse or cardiac activity and no obtainable blood pressure. Emergency room thoracotomy was employed in these patients. ⋯ Pericardiocentesis was of little value in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac tamponade and was not performed. The right ventricle was the most commonly injured chamber (44.4%). 56 patients (77.8%) presented with a normal sinus rhythm and 3 patients (4%) had an idioventricular rhythm. Patients with disorganised cardiac rhythm had a higher mortality (87%), than those with normal sinus rhythm (15%).