Traumatic cardiac injury: Experience from a level-1 trauma centre

Cardiac Arrhythmias in Trauma Patients Undergoing Pericardiotomy: A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Pericardiotomy is performed in the setting of trauma to diagnose and treat cardiac injury. The frequency of cardiac arrhythmia after pericardiotomy for trauma is poorly described in the literature. We sought to identify the frequency of and risk factors for the development of postpericardiotomy arrhythmia in trauma patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective single-center cohort study of patients >16 y of age, querying our institutional trauma database (Jan 2011-Dec 2020) for International Classification of Diseases-9 and -10 codes involving pericardiotomy (i.e., pericardial window, sternotomy). Operative details and postoperative course were collected for patients surviving >24 h. Sinus bradycardia and tachycardia were not included as arrhythmias.

RESULTS

We identified 252 trauma patients who underwent pericardiotomy. One hundred fifty-four patients survived >24 h. Of these, 12.3% experienced arrhythmia. Patients developing arrhythmia were older, had higher injury severity score, were more likely to have a blunt mechanism of injury, and had higher in-hospital mortality. On multiple logistic regressions, increasing age, blunt mechanism, and concomitant laparotomy were associated with arrhythmia development, while operative characteristics were not.

CONCLUSIONS

At our institution, trauma patients undergoing pericardiotomy have a risk of arrhythmia of 12.3%, which is associated with multiple nonmodifiable risk factors. Further study is warranted to identify potential mechanisms to reduce arrhythmias in this population.

Penetrating cardiac injury after percutaneous breast core-needle biopsy, unusual life-threatening complication: a case report

BACKGROUND

Complications after percutaneous breast biopsy are infrequent but may include hematoma, pseudoaneurysm formation, persistent pain, infection, delayed wound healing, vasovagal reaction, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and neoplastic seeding. The risk factors include tumor factors (size, location, vascularity), procedure-related factors (needle diameter, number of biopsies), and interventionist experience. There has been no previous report of a fatal complication resulting from percutaneous breast biopsy.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a 54-year-old Asian woman with a 3 cm BI-RADS® 4B left breast mass in the lower-inner quadrant who was biopsied by a 16 G needle under ultrasound guidance at a province hospital. She experienced dizziness and near-syncope afterward. The initial evaluation showed evidence of cardiac tamponade with hemodynamic instability. She underwent urgent subxiphoid pericardial window and was transferred to our facility. We brought her directly to the operating room to perform an explorative median sternotomy and found a 0.2 cm hole in the right ventricle. The injured site was successfully repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated mild right ventricular dysfunction without evidence of septal or valvular injury. She survived with no significant complications.

DISCUSSION

This case might be the first report of a life-threatening complication related to percutaneous breast core-needle biopsy. The rapid pericardial release is key to the survival of cardiac tamponade. The patient subsequently required cardiac repair and monitoring to avoid long-term complications. In this report, we suggested a safe biopsy method, complications recognition, and appropriate management of penetrating cardiac injury.

CONCLUSION

Penetrating cardiac injury resulting from percutaneous breast biopsy is extremely rare but can occur. A biopsy must be done cautiously, and worst-case management should promptly be considered.

Resuscitation and Forensic Factors Influencing Outcome in Penetrating Cardiac Injury

BACKGROUND

Cardiac injury caused by a sharp object is a medical and surgical therapeutic challenge. Mortality risk factors have been identified but there are major discrepancies in the literature. The aim of this study was to analyse the management of victims of penetrating cardiac injuries before and after admission to hospital and the anatomical characteristics of these injuries in order to facilitate diagnosis of the most critical patients.

METHODS

To carry out this study, we conducted a retrospective analytical study with epidemiological data on victims of penetrating cardiac injuries. We included two types of patients, with those who underwent autopsy in our institution after death from sharp injury to the heart or great vessels and those who survived with treatment in the emergency department or intensive care unit between January 2015 and February 2022.

RESULTS

We included 30 autopsied patients and 12 survivors aged between 18 and 73 years. Higher mortality was associated with prehospital or in-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest (OR = 4, CI [1.71-9.35]), preoperative mechanical ventilation (OR = 10, CI [1.53-65.41]), preoperative catecholamines (OR = 7, CI [1.12-6.29]), preoperative and perioperative adrenaline (OR = 13, CI [1.98-85.46] and [1.98-85.46]), penetrating cardiac injury (OR = 14, CI [2.10-93.22]), multiple cardiac injuries (OR = 1.5, CI [1.05-2.22]) and an Organ Injury Scaling of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST-OIS) score of 5 (OR = 2.9, CI [1.04-8.54]; p = 0.0329) with an AUC-ROC curve value of 0.708 (CI [0.543-0.841]).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified risk mortality factors in penetrating cardiac injury patients. These findings can help improve the diagnosis and management of these patients. The AAST-OIS score may be a good tool to diagnose critical patients.

Role of extracorporeal life support for traumatic hemopericardium: A single level I trauma center review

BACKGROUND

Traumatic hemopericardium may lead to cardiac tamponade, arrhythmia, arrest, or death and requires emergency surgery. We reviewed cases of traumatic hemopericardium in our center and the role of extracorporeal life support in these cases.

METHODS

From November 2011 to January 2022, 28 patients with significant hemopericardium and suspected cardiac injury were enrolled. In our center, surgery is the primary treatment of choice; however, if the patient is in an unstable condition, extracorporeal life support is administered in the emergency room prior to surgery.

RESULTS

Preoperative extracorporeal life support was applied to 10 patients (36 %). Two patients (20 %) were converted from extracorporeal life support to cardiopulmonary bypass during operation. After surgery, 2 patients (20 %) needed postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Overall, 21 patients (75 %) survived; of these, 6 (29 %) received extracorporeal life support. Meanwhile, 7 patients (25 %) died; of these, 4 patients (57 %) received extracorporeal life support.

CONCLUSION

Resuscitation method is the most crucial survival strategy in patients with severe chest trauma. Extracorporeal life support in cases of traumatic hemopericardium may be beneficial and efficient in stabilizing patients prior to surgery.

Treatment results of cardiac tamponade due to thoracic trauma at Jeju Regional Trauma Center, Korea: a case series

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to report the treatment results of patients with traumatic cardiac tamponade after the opening of Jeju Regional Trauma Center.

Methods

We analyzed the treatment outcomes of patients with traumatic cardiac tamponade who were treated at Jeju Regional Trauma Center from January 2018 to August 2022.

Results

Seven patients with traumatic cardiac tamponade were treated. The male to female ratio was 1.33:1 (four male and three female patients) and the average age was 60.3±7.2 years. The mechanism of injury was blunt trauma in six cases and penetrating injury in one case. Upon arrival at the emergency department, pericardiostomy was performed in four cases, and an emergency operation was performed in six cases. Pericardiostomy alone was performed in one patient, who had cardiac tamponade due to extrapericardial suprahepatic inferior vena cava rupture. The causes of cardiac tamponade were right atrium appendage rupture in one case, right ventricle rupture in one case, inferior vena cava rupture in two cases, right atrium and left atrium rupture in one case, both atria and left ventricle rupture in one case, and intercostal artery rupture in one case. In three cases, intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass was required. Two of the seven patients died (mortality rate, 28.5%).

Conclusions

Relatively favorable treatment results were observed for traumatic cardiac tamponade patients after Jeju Regional Trauma Center was established.

Successful management of penetrating cardiac injury in a limited resource setting without cardiac surgical instruments and heart-lung machine

Penetrating cardiac injuries (PCI) are often fatal and do not present enough time for effective referrals to higher centers. Most deaths occur in transit from a remote healthcare setting with limited resources. I present the first reported case of PCI in the medical literature to be managed successfully in the absence of heart-lung machine as well as dedicated cardiac surgical instruments and equipment, and which was further complicated by mediastinitis.

Comprehensive Management of the Patient With Traumatic Cardiac Injury

Cardiac injuries are rare but potentially life-threatening, with a significant proportion of victims dying before arrival at the hospital. The in-hospital mortality among patients who arrive in-hospital alive also remains significantly high, despite major advancements in trauma care including the continuous updating of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program. Stab and gunshot wounds due to assault or self-inflicted injuries are the common causes of penetrating cardiac injuries, while motor vehicular accidents and fall from height are attributable causes of blunt cardiac injury. Rapid transport of victim to trauma care facility, prompt recognition of cardiac trauma by clinical evaluation and focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination, quick decision-making to perform emergency department thoracotomy, and/or shifting the patient expeditiously to the operating room for operative intervention with ongoing resuscitation are the key components for a successful outcome in cardiac injury victims with cardiac tamponade or exsanguinating hemorrhage. Blunt cardiac injury with arrhythmias, myocardial dysfunction, or cardiac failure may need continuous cardiac monitoring or anesthetic care for operative procedure of other associated injuries. This mandates a multidisciplinary approach working in concert with agreed local protocols and shared goals. An anesthesiologist has a pivotal role to play as a team leader or member in the trauma pathway of severely injured patients. They are not only involved in in-hospital care as a perioperative physician but also participate in the organizational aspects of prehospital trauma systems and training of prehospital care providers/paramedics. There is sparse literature available on the anesthetic management of cardiac injury (penetrating as well as blunt) patients. This narrative review discusses the comprehensive management of cardiac injury patients, focusing on the anesthetic concerns and is guided by our experience in managing cardiac injury cases at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. JPNATC is the only level 1 trauma center in north India, providing services to a population of approximately 30 million with around 9000 operations being performed annually.

Penetrating cardiac injury presentation and management in resource-limited settings: A case series from Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Penetrating cardiac injury is rare (0.1 % of trauma admissions) but fatal. Presentation is with features of cardiac tamponade or hemorrhagic shock. Urgent clinical evaluation, ultrasound, temporizing pericardiocentesis or surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass as back up consist of standard management. In this paper, experience of management of penetrating cardiac injury from a resource limited country is presented.

CASE PRESENTATIONS

There were seven patients, five had a stab injury and two had gunshot wound. All were men with mean age of 31.1 years. Patients arrived within 30 min (3), 2 h (2), 4 h (1) and 18 h (1) after injury. Mean initial blood pressure and pulse rates were 83/51 mm Hg and 121, respectively. One patient had pericardiocentesis before referral. Exploration was via left anterolateral thoracotomy. Four (57.1 %) had right ventricle perforation, one had both right and left ventricle, and two (28.5 %) had left ventricle perforation. Suture repair (6) and pericardial patch (1) were done without bypass machine as back up. Mean duration of stay in the intensive care unit and in the surgical wards were 4.4 days (range: 2-15) and 10.8 days (range: 1-48), respectively. All were discharged improved.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Penetrating cardiac injury presents with low blood pressure and tachycardia after stab or gunshot wounds. Right ventricle is mostly affected. Pericardiocentesis can be done as temporary measure. While having bypass machine as back up is recommended, the absence of it should not preclude intervention. Suture repair can be done with left anterolateral thoracotomy.

CONCLUSION

Penetrating cardiac injury can be managed in resource limited settings without back up of cardiopulmonary bypass. Early identification and surgical intervention results in favorable outcome.

Cardiac Penetrating Injury with Complete Heart Block: A Case Report

The development of heart block following cardiac penetrating injury is rare, and only few cases can be found in the literature. This uncommon healthcare emergency has shown to be a medical challenge for healthcare personnel, and it manifests very high mortality rates of 80–90% among its victims. The pre-hospital management and transport time for these cases are vital and can dictate the possible outcome for the victim. In this article, we present the first case ever reported in the Gulf Region about complete heart block as a consequence of penetrating chest injury. Our patient was a 35-year-old male who had a stab wound on the right side of chest wall and who developed complete heart block in the Emergency Department (ED) as a result of the injury. Patient was rapidly diagnosed and managed in ED and then was shifted to the operating theater for immediate surgical repair. However, despite anatomical correction during the surgery he remained hypotensive and bradycardic. When a hemodynamic stability was achieved, he was then placed on a temporary pacemaker and later on a permanent pacemaker by the cardiology team.

Emergency Surgery for Blunt Cardiac Injury: Experience in 43 Cases

BACKGROUND

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) increases with traffic accidents and is an important cause of death in trauma patients. In particular, for patients who need surgical treatment, the mortality rate is extremely high unless the patient is promptly operated on. This study aimed to explore early recognition and expeditious surgical intervention to increase survival.

METHODS

All patients with BCIs during the past 15 years were reviewed, and those who underwent operative treatment were analyzed retrospectively regarding the mechanism of injury, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 348 patients with BCIs accounted for 18.3% of 1903 patients with blunt thoracic injury (BTI). Of 348 patients, 43 underwent operative treatment. The main cause of injury was traffic accidents, with an incidence of 48.8%. Of them, steering wheel injuries occurred in 15 patients. In 26 patients, a preoperative diagnosis was obtained by echocardiography, CT scanning, etc. In the remaining 17, who had to undergo urgent thoracotomy without any preoperative imaging, a definitive diagnosis of BCI was proven during the operation. The volume of preoperative infusion or crystalloid was <1000 ml in 31 cases. Preoperative pericardiocentesis was not used in anyone. In 12 patients, the operation commenced within 1 h. Overall mortality was 32.6%. The death was caused by BCI in 9.

CONCLUSIONS

Facing a patient with BTI, a high index of suspicion for BCI must be maintained. To manage those requiring operations, early recognition and expeditious thoracotomy are essential. Preoperatively, limited fluid resuscitation is emphasized. We do not advocate preoperative pericardiocentesis.

Blunt Cardiac Injury: A Single-Center 15-Year Experience

In recent years, the incidence of blunt cardiac injury (BCI) has increased rapidly and is an important cause of death in trauma patients. This study aimed to explore early diagnosis and therapy to increase survival. All patients with BCI during the past 15 years were analyzed retrospectively regarding the mechanism of injury, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and outcome. The patients were divided into two groups according to the needs of their condition—nonoperative (Group A) and operative (Group B). Comparisons of the groups were performed. A total of 348 patients with BCI accounted for 18.3 per cent of 1903 patients with blunt thoracic injury. The main cause of injury was traffic accidents, with an incidence of 48.3 per cent. In Group A (n = 305), most patients sustained myocardial contusion, and the mortality was 6.9 per cent. In Group B (n = 43), including those with cardiac rupture and pericardial hernia, the mortality was 32.6 per cent. Comparisons of the groups regarding the shock rate and mortality were significant ( P < 0.01). Deaths directly resulting from BCI in Group B were greater than those in Group A ( P < 0.05). In all 348 patients, the mortality rate was 10.1 per cent. When facing a patient with blunt thoracic injury, a high index of suspicion for BCI must be maintained. To manage myocardial contusion, it is necessary to protect the heart, alleviate edema of the myocardium, and control arrhythmia with drugs. To deal with those requiring operation, early recognition and expeditious thoracotomy are essential.

Ten-Year Trends in Traumatic Cardiac Injury and Outcomes: A Trauma Registry Analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac injury is a significant cause of death in patients with traumatic injuries. The Oklahoma Trauma Registry collects data from acute care hospitals in Oklahoma. This study investigated the trends and outcomes of traumatic cardiac injury in Oklahoma over a 10-year period.

METHODS

The Oklahoma Trauma Registry tracks patients with major severity and one of the following criteria: hospital stay 48 hours or longer, death on arrival or in the hospital, hospital transfer, intensive care unit admission, or surgery. Cardiac injuries were identified from data acquired 2005 to 2014. Characteristics, mechanisms of injury, associated injuries, and outcomes were analyzed. Results were further divided into blunt vs penetrating injuries and operative vs nonoperative management.

RESULTS

Of 107,549 patients, 426 patients suffered cardiac injury, and 160 patients suffered penetrating trauma. Commonly associated injuries were rib fractures, pneumothorax, hemothorax, and intraabdominal injuries. Of blunt cardiac injuries, 26.7% had spinal fractures. Operative management occurred in 16.9%. Overall mortality rate was 35.7% (51.9% in penetrating and 26.3% in blunt injuries). Mortality was higher for patients who had operative management but was similar in penetrating and blunt cardiac injury. Over 10 years, the percentage of cardiac injury decreased. However, mortality in patients who suffered a cardiac injury increased, correlating with an increase in proportion of penetrating cardiac injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Traumatic cardiac injury, particularly penetrating injury, continues to be a significant source of mortality. Analysis of state-base trauma registries can identify trends in causes of injury and death, serving as a reference point for quality improvement, therapeutic triage, and preventative action plans.

Traumatic blunt cardiac injuries: An updated narrative review

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is defined as injuries sustained due to blunt trauma to the heart, and it remains unchanged for long time. The spectrum of BCI ranges from a minor "bruise" to specific postcontusion cardiac conditions such as free-wall rupture. This is a narrative review provides a continued and updates details regarding BCIs from 2008 to 2017. For this purpose, a narrative review of literature was conducted using appropriate database for retrieval of articles through systematic search methodology. Autopsy-based studies are very limited. It can be concluded that regardless of the variability in the spectrum of modalities and medical/surgical resources, BCIs diagnosis and management remain a puzzle and needs further prospective studies.

Fatal cardiac trauma in the city of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

to determine the frequency of fatal cardiac trauma in the city of Manaus, Brazil, between November 2015 and October 2016, and to clarify the mechanisms of trauma and death, previous hospital treatment, as well as the injuries associated with cardiac trauma.

METHODS

retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study, which reviewed the necropsy reports of individuals whose cause of death was cardiac injury.

RESULTS

the cardiac trauma rate was of 5.98% (138 cases) out of 2,306 necropsies performed in the study period by Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Manaus (IML is a Brazilian institute responsible for necropsies and cadaveric reports). Males accounted for 92% of the cases. The median age was 27 years (14-83). Gunshot wounds (GSW) was the trauma mechanism in 62.3% and stab wound (SW) in 29.7%. Exsanguination was responsible for most of the deaths and cardiac tamponade was present in second place. On-site death occurred in 86.2% of the cases. The ventricles were the most common site of cardiac injury. Hemothorax was identified in 90.6% of the individuals. Only 23 patients (16.7%) were taken to the hospital (Emergency Room), but six (26.2%) were submitted only to chest drainage, not to thoracotomy. The lung was unilaterally affected in 57% of the cases and bilaterally in 43%.

CONCLUSION

fatal cardiac trauma represented an index of 5.98% in the city of Manaus. Most patients die at the scene of the trauma, usually due to exsanguination caused by gunshot wound. About a quarter of patients who reached the hospital and died were not diagnosed with cardiac trauma in time.

Focused assessment with sonography for trauma: current perspectives

Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a part of resuscitation of trauma patients recommended by international panel consensus. The purpose of FAST is to identify free fluid, which necessarily means blood in acute trauma patients. In this article, the authors focused on various aspects of FAST in the emergency department, prehospital care, pediatric setting, training and general pearls/pitfalls. Detailed techniques and interpretation of FAST are beyond the scope of this article.