Acta chirurgiae orthopaedicae et traumatologiae Cechoslovaca
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Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech · Jun 2010
Case Reports[Successful urgent thoracotomy in a patient with penetrating heart injury--case report].
The case of a patient with a penetrating cardiac injury successfully treated by thoracotomy is reported. In a suicidal attempt, he suffered a self-inflicted thoracic stub wound penetrating the left ventricle. During transport to the hospital, he developed circulatory instability. ⋯ Intermittent myoclonus had persisted since admission, and a CT scan showed diffuse cerebral oedema due to post-hypoxic brain damage. During the following hospitalisation, the patient underwent the SSEP examination (evoked potentials) and no signs of decortication were found. At four weeks after injury, the patient was transported to his regional hospital he was afebrile, with stable circulation, spontaneous ventricular function and the GCS of 8 to 9.