Trauma to the heart: A review of presentation, diagnosis, and treatment

The role and timing of cardiopulmonary bypass in the surgical repair of traumatic cardiac injury

OBJECTIVES

The management of traumatic cardiac injury (TCI) may require a prompt treatment, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) followed by surgical repair. This study evaluated the surgical outcomes among TCI patients.

METHODS

From August 2003, 21 patients with TCI were underwent emergent surgical repair. TCI was classified as grade I to VI according to the Cardiac Injury Organ Scale (CIS) of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma, and severity was evaluated using the Injury Severity Score (ISS).

RESULTS

Of the 21 patients, the mean age and ISS were 54.8 ± 18.8 years and 26.5 ± 6.3, respectively, including13 blunt and eight penetrating injuries. A CIS grade of IV or greater was observed in 17 patients and unstable hemodynamics in 16. CPB or extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) were used in three patients before they underwent surgery and in seven patients after undergoing sternotomy, including three on whom a canular access route was prepared preoperatively. There was a significant correlation between the preoperative width of pericardial effusion and the use of CPB (p < 0.05). Overall hospital mortality was 14.3%, and 100% in patients with uncontrolled bleeding during surgery. All patients who underwent CPB before or during surgery, in whom a standby canular access route had been established, survived.

CONCLUSIONS

TCI is associated with a high mortality rate, and survival depends on efficient diagnosis and the rapid mobilization of the operating room. Preparations for CPB or establishing a canular access route should be made before surgical procedures in cases in which the hemodynamics are unstable.

Complications in Patients with Cardiac Penetrating Trauma

BACKGROUND

Cardiac penetrating trauma is a medical emergency that mostly affects young people. Based on the type of injury and associated complications, it can present as a surgical challenge and can lead to mortality.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the complications of penetrating heart trauma among patients referred to Shahid Madani Hospital.

METHODS

In this retrospective descriptive study, the data of penetrating cardiac trauma patients referred to Shahid Madani hospital, Karaj, Tehran, from 2016-2019, were investigated. Information, including age, sex, cause of trauma, traumatized area and complications, was extracted and recorded in a data collection form. The data were evaluated statistically using SPSS v18.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients were included in the study, where the mean age of the patients was 25 years. 73.3% of these patients were men and 26.7% were women. Knife stab wounds were the most prevalent cause of the trauma, present in 93.3% of patients. 73.3% of the patients had cardiac tamponade and 20% had a pneumothorax. The right ventricle was the most common site of the injury in 46.7% of the patients. A mortality rate of 3.4% was reported in this study.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the highest penetrating heart rate trauma occurred among young people, and the most common cause of the trauma was a knife stab. The most common area of the injury was the right ventricular, and cardiac tamponade was the most common complication.

[Management of thoracic trauma and intrathoracic injuries]

More than 45% of polytraumatized patients in Germany suffer from severe thoracic trauma. Due to the urgent time factor (e.g. respiratory insufficiency and severe bleeding), a structured procedure in the diagnostics and treatment according to the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) criteria is necessary both prehospital and in the emergency room in order to provide the patient with adequate care. If a patient is stable or can be stabilized there is the option of using extended diagnostics, such as whole body computer tomography (CT) scanning with contrast medium, to select a treatment that is optimally adapted to the injury pattern. This can be performed by open surgery, minimally invasive surgery and interventional radiologically/endoscopically and depends on the injured organ as well as the extent of the injury. This means that only an interdisciplinary approach guarantees optimal care for patients with thoracic trauma.

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.