A Caveat to the Performance of Pericardial Ultrasound in Patients With Penetrating Cardiac Wounds

Severe left-to-right shunting from combined traumatic tricuspid valve rupture and atrial septal defect: bridge to surgical repair using veno-venous ECMO

Our patient presented to the emergency room following a motor vehicle accident. The traumatic tricuspid valve rupture was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiogram, and his respiratory status declined rapidly. He was placed on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) to bridge him to surgical repair. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a large atrial septal defect (ASD) with the combination of both injuries leading to severe left-to-right shunting that was underappreciated in the initial management of the patient. The tricuspid valve and the ASD were repaired. In this patient, in the context of both tricuspid valve rupture and ASD, veno-arterial ECMO or percutaneous right ventricular assist devices may have also helped bridge the patient to surgical repair of his blunt cardiac injuries.

Cardiac Trauma: A Review of Penetrating and Blunt Cardiac Injuries

Cardiac injuries pose challenging diagnostic and management dilemmas. Cardiac trauma can be classified by mechanism into blunt and penetrating injuries. Penetrating trauma has an overall higher mortality and is more likely to require operative intervention. Due to the lethality of any cardiac injury, prompt diagnosis and treatment is critical for survival. The initial management of suspected cardiac injury should start with Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols followed shortly by directed diagnosis and management, which usually begins with a focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examination. In contrast to traditional ATLS protocols, some centers have adopted an assessment of "circulation before "airway" and "breathing"; however, this is an evolving concept. In this article, we provide an overview on the management of penetrating and blunt cardiac injuries, including use of physical exam, laboratory tests, imaging, and surgery.

Management of contained penetrating cardiac injury in a patient with prior cardiac surgery

Penetrating cardiac injuries usually require emergent surgical intervention. Our patient presented to the trauma centre with multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest, epigastric region and abdomen. She arrived haemodynamically stable, and her initial Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma exam was negative. Her chest X-ray did not show any evident pneumothorax or haemothorax. Due to her injury pattern, she was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy and neck exploration. Postoperatively, she was taken for CT and found to have a contained cardiac rupture. The injury was contained within previous scar tissue from her prior cardiac surgery. Further evaluation revealed that the injury included a penetrating stab wound to the right ventricle and a traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD). She subsequently underwent a redo sternotomy with the repair of the penetrating stab wound and the VSD. Cardiology, intensive care, trauma surgery and cardiothoracic surgery coordinated her care from diagnosis, management and recovery. This case highlights the challenges in the management of cardiac injuries and the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to care for complex cardiac injuries.

Damage control in penetrating cardiac trauma

Definitive management of hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating cardiac injuries remains controversial between those who propose aggressive invasive care versus those who opt for a less invasive or non-operative approach. This controversy even extends to cases of hemodynamically unstable patients in which damage control surgery is thought to be useful and effective. The aim of this article is to delineate our experience in the surgical management of penetrating cardiac injuries via the creation of a clear and practical algorithm that includes basic principles of damage control surgery. We recommend that all patients with precordial penetrating injuries undergo trans-thoracic ultrasound screening as an integral component of their initial evaluation. In those patients who arrive hemodynamically stable but have a positive ultrasound, a pericardial window with lavage and drainage should follow. We want to emphasize the importance of the pericardial lavage and drainage in the surgical management algorithm of these patients. Before this concept, all positive pericardial windows ended up in an open chest exploration. With the coming of the pericardial lavage and drainage procedure, the reported literature and our experience have shown that 25% of positive pericardial windows do not benefit and/or require further invasive procedures. However, in hemodynamically unstable patients, damage control surgery may still be required to control ongoing bleeding. For this purpose, we propose a surgical management algorithm that includes all of these essential clinical aspects in the care of these patients.

The Role of Ultrasound for Detecting Occult Penetrating Cardiac Wounds in Hemodynamically Stable Patients

BACKGROUND

There is evidence in favor of using the ultrasound as the primary screening tool in looking for an occult cardiac injury. We report on a prospective single-center study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasound for the diagnosis of occult penetrating cardiac wounds in a low-resource hospital from a middle-income country.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively. We included all consecutive patients 14 years and older who presented to the Emergency Trauma Unit with (1) penetrating injuries to the precordial area and (2) a systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg (hemodynamically stable). The main outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ultrasound compared with those of the pericardial window, which was the standard test.

RESULTS

A total of 141 patients met the inclusion criteria. Our results showed that for diagnosing an occult cardiac injury, the sensitivity of the chest ultrasonography was 79.31%, and the specificity was 92.86%. Of the 110 patients with a normal or negative ultrasound, six had a positive pericardial window. All of these patients had left hemothoraces. None of them required further cardiac surgical interventions.

CONCLUSION

We found that ultrasound was 79% sensitive and 92% specific for the diagnosis of occult penetrating cardiac wounds. However, it should be used with caution in patients with injuries to the cardiac zone and simultaneous left hemothorax.

Suspicion of penetrating cardiac injury: Curing or caring?

Identifying penetrating cardiac injury in hemodynamically stable patients can be challenging especially when the patient has no signs of cardiac tamponade and no pericardial effusion identified on transthoracic echocardiography. In this case report, we discuss both penetrating cardiac injuries diagnosis algorithm and treatment strategies. At present, it is difficult to refer to general guidelines transposable from one center to another. We report the paramount importance of multidisciplinary management with experienced teams to face any possible pitfalls in traumatology especially in the context of penetrating cardiac injury.

False negative of pericardial effusion using focused assessment with sonography for trauma and enhanced CT following traumatic cardiac rupture; A case report

Background

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination is helpful for the identification of pericardial effusion in trauma. However, in a cardiac rupture with a pericardial perforation, pericardial effusion is not always detected by FAST. We experienced the case that FAST and enhanced CT failed to detect pericardial effusion.

Case presentation

A 51-year old woman injured after falling from a height of 3 m was brought to our institute. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma and enhanced computed tomography did not reveal any pericardial effusion; however, a massive hemothorax was revealed. Because the patient's hemodynamic state had become unstable, we performed an urgent left anterolateral thoracotomy. A left pericardial perforation was detected. By performing a clamshell thoracotomy, we found a rupture of 1 cm in diameter at the left atrial appendage. The hemodynamic state was stabilized by suturing the injury site. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was transferred to another hospital after 31 days of admission.

Conclusions

Cardiac injury in the left atrial appendage is rare and sometimes difficult to diagnose and to repair. In the case of a blunt chest trauma with a massive hemothorax, although focused assessment with sonography for trauma gives negative results for pericardial effusion, a cardiac rupture with pericardial perforation should be considered.

Cardiac Injuries at Estonian Major Trauma Facilities: A 23-year Perspective

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cardiac injuries are highly lethal lesions following trauma and most of the patients decease in pre-hospital settings. However, studies on cardiac trauma in Estonia are scarce. Thus, we set out to study cardiac injuries admitted to Estonian major trauma facilities during 23 years of Estonian independence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After the ethics review board approval, all consecutive patients with cardiac injuries per ICD-9 (861.0 and 861.1) and ICD-10 codes (S.26) admitted to the major trauma facilities between 1 January 1993 and 31 July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Cardiac contusions were excluded. Data collected included demographics, injury profile, and in-hospital outcomes. Primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were cardiac injury profile and hospital length of stay.

RESULTS

During the study period, 37 patients were included. Mean age was 33.1 ± 12.0 years and 92% were male. Penetrating and blunt trauma accounted for 89% and 11% of the cases, respectively. Thoracotomy and sternotomy rates for cardiac repair were 80% and 20%, respectively. Most frequently injured cardiac chamber was left ventricle at 49% followed by right ventricle, right atrium, and left atrium at 34%, 17%, and 3% of the patients, respectively. Multi-chamber injury was observed at 5% of the cases. Overall hospital length of stay was 13.5 ± 16.7 days. Overall mortality was 22% (n = 8) with uniformly fatal outcomes following left atrial and multi-chamber injuries.

CONCLUSION

Overall, 37 patients with cardiac injuries were hospitalized to national major trauma facilities during the 23-year study period. The overall in-hospital mortality was 22% comparing favorably with previous reports. Risk factors for mortality were initial Glasgow Coma Scale < 9, pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and alcohol intoxication.

The Dangers of Equivocal FAST in Trauma Resuscitation

Equivocal focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) examinations confound decision-making for trauma surgeons. We sought to determine whether the equivocal FAST (defined as any nonconcordant result) has a deleterious effect on trauma outcomes. A 2-year review (2014–2015) of all trauma activations at our Level I trauma center was performed. Patients were matched at baseline and FAST results were compared. Outcomes included resuscitation time (h), ventilation days (d), hospital length of stay (HLOS-d), ICU length-of-stay, and survival (%). In addition, skill level of the sonographer was stratified by novice (postgraduate year (PGY) years 1–3) or expert skill levels (PGY-4/fellow or attending). A total of 1,027 patients were included. Compared with concordant FAST examinations, equivocal FASTs were associated with increased HLOS (14.1 vs 10.6, P = 0.05), higher mortality (9.8 vs 3.7%, P = 0.02), decreased positive predictive value in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) (55 vs 79%, P = 0.02) and left upper quadrant (LUQ) (50 vs 83%, P < 0.01) and significantly decreased specificity in the thoracic (83 vs 98%), RUQ (80 vs 98%), LUQ (86 vs 99%), and pelvic (88 vs 98%) windows (P < 0.01 for all). A trend of greater positive predictive value in the thoracic window (100 vs 81%, P = 0.09) among PGY-4/fellow and attending providers compared with PGY levels 1–3 was observed. Equivocal FASTs portend worse outcomes than concordant FASTs because of high false-negative rates, specifically in the thoracic region and the upper quadrants. Lower thresholds for intervention are recommended.

Diagnostic performance of the cardiac FAST in a high-volume Australian trauma centre

Background: Cardiac injury is uncommon, but it is important to diagnose, in order to prevent subsequent complications. Extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (eFAST) allows rapid evaluation of the pericardium and thorax. The objective of this study was to describe cardiac injuries presenting to a major trauma centre and the diagnostic performance of eFAST in detecting haemopericardium as well as broader cardiac injuries. Methods: Data of patients with severe injuries and diagnosed cardiac injuries (Injury Severity Score >12 and AIS 2008 codes for cardiac injuries) were extracted from The Alfred Trauma Registry over a four-year period from July 2010 to June 2014. The initial eFAST results were compared to those of the final diagnosis, which were determined after analysing imaging results and intraoperative findings. Results: Thirty patients who were identified with cardiac injuries met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 22 patients sustained injuries under the scope of eFAST, of which a positive eFAST scan in the pericardium was reported in 13 (59%) patients, while nine (41%) patients had a negative scan. This resulted in a sensitivity of 59% (95% CI: 36.7%–78.5%). The sensitivity of detecting any cardiac injuries was lower at 43.3% (95% CI: 26.0–62.3). Conclusions: The low sensitivities of eFAST for detecting cardiac injuries and haemopericardium demonstrate that a negative result cannot be used in isolation to exclude cardiac injuries. A high index of suspicion for cardiac injury remains essential. Adjunct diagnostic modalities are indicated for the diagnosis of cardiac injury following major trauma.

Chest trauma: First 48hours management

Chest trauma remains an issue for health services for both severe and apparently mild trauma management. Severe chest trauma is associated with high mortality and is considered liable for 25% of mortality in multiple traumas. Moreover, mild trauma is also associated with significant morbidity especially in patients with preexisting conditions. Thus, whatever the severity, a fast-acting strategy must be organized. At this time, there are no guidelines available from scientific societies. These expert recommendations aim to establish guidelines for chest trauma management in both prehospital an in hospital settings, for the first 48hours. The "Société française d'anesthésie réanimation" and the "Société française de médecine d'urgence" worked together on the 7 following questions: (1) criteria defining severity and for appropriate hospital referral; (2) diagnosis strategy in both pre- and in-hospital settings; (3) indications and guidelines for ventilatory support; (4) management of analgesia; (5) indications and guidelines for chest tube placement; (6) surgical and endovascular repair indications in blunt chest trauma; (7) definition, medical and surgical specificity of penetrating chest trauma. For each question, prespecified "crucial" (and sometimes also "important") outcomes were identified by the panel of experts because it mattered for patients. We rated evidence across studies for these specific clinical outcomes. After a systematic Grade^® approach, we defined 60 recommendations. Each recommendation has been evaluated by all the experts according to the DELPHI method.

Image-based resuscitation of the hypotensive patient with cardiac ultrasound: An evidence-based review

This article is a detailed review of the literature regarding the use of cardiac ultrasound for the resuscitation of hypotensive patients. In addition, figures regarding windows and description of how to perform the test are included.

Predictors of Positive Subxiphoid Pericardial Window in Stable Patients with Penetrating Injuries to the Precordial Region

BACKGROUND

Subxiphoid pericardial window (SPW) remains a valuable diagnostic tool for patients at risk of occult cardiac injuries. However, how to select patients that could benefit from this procedure remains unclear. We aimed to identify clinical predictors of positive SPW in patients with penetrating precordial injuries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective data collection of 183 patients who underwent SPW for the exclusion of penetrating cardiac injuries during 2002 - 2004 at a level I trauma centre in Cali, Colombia. Patient's demographics, clinical characteristics, and injury information were obtained. Independent predictors of positive SPW were assessed using stepwise logistic regressions.

RESULTS

There were 41 positive SPW (22.4%). Unadjusted analyses demonstrated that stab/knife wounds (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.17-5.25, p = 0.017), single wound (OR 14.61, 95% CI 1.9-110, p = 0.009), and clinical signs of pericardiac tamponade (OR 8.52, 95% CI 3.92-18.4, p < 0.001) were associated with increased odds of positive SPW. Conversely, systolic blood pressure (0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99) and stable physiological index (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.65, p = 0.002) were associated with decreased odds. In multivariable analyses, signs of pericardiac tamponade (OR 6.37, 95% CI 2.78-14.6, p < 0.001), and single injuries (OR 12.99, 95% CI 1.6-102.7, p = 0.015) remained as independent predictors of positive SPW.

CONCLUSION

Emphasis on early recognition of the clinical signs of pericardiac tamponade could be the most important factor for the identification of occult cardiac injuries. Patients with multiple wounds to the precordial region who reached the hospital may not benefit from a SPW. However, high level of awareness is important because the incidence of occult cardiac injuries is not negligible.

Utility of Chest Computed Tomography after a “Normal” Chest Radiograph in Patients with Thoracic Stab Wounds

Chest computed tomography (CCT) is used to screen for injuries in hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating injury. We aim to determine the incidence of missed injuries detected on CCT after a negative chest radiograph (CXR) in patients with thoracic stab wounds. A 10-year retrospective review of a Level I trauma center registry was performed on patients with thoracic stab wounds. Patients who were hemodynamically unstable or did not undergo both CXR and CCT were excluded. Patients with a negative CXR were evaluated to determine if additional findings were diagnosed on CCT. Of 386 patients with stab wounds to the chest, 154 (40%) underwent both CXR and CCT. One hundred and fifteen (75%) had a negative screening CXR. CCT identified injuries in 42 patients (37%) that were not seen on CXR. Pneumothorax and/or hemothorax occurred in 40 patients (35%), of which 14 patients underwent tube thoracostomy. Two patients had hemopericardium on CCT and both required operative intervention. Greater than one-third of patients with a normal screening CXR were found to have abnormalities on CCT. Future studies comparing repeat CXR to CCT are required to further define the optimal diagnostic strategy in patients with stab wounds to chest after normal screening CXR.

False negative pericardial Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma examination following cardiac rupture from blunt thoracic trauma: a case report

INTRODUCTION

The Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma examination is an invaluable tool in the initial assessment of any injured patient. Although highly sensitive and accurate for identifying hemoperitoneum, occasional false negative results do occur in select scenarios. We present a previously unreported case of survival following blunt cardiac rupture with associated negative pericardial window due to a concurrent pericardial wall laceration.

CASE PRESENTATION

A healthy 46-year-old white woman presented to our level 1 trauma center with hemodynamic instability following a motor vehicle collision. Although her abdominal Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma windows were positive for fluid, her pericardial window was negative. After immediate transfer to the operating room in the setting of persistent instability, a subsequent thoracotomy identified a blunt cardiac rupture that was draining into the ipsilateral pleural space via an adjacent tear in the pericardium. The cardiac injury was controlled with digital pressure, resuscitation completed, and then repaired using standard cardiorrhaphy techniques. Following repair of her injuries (left ventricle, left atrial appendage, and liver), her postoperative course was uneventful.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of the pericardial space using Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma is an important component in the initial assessment of the severely injured patient. Even in cases of blunt mechanisms however, clinicians must be wary of occasional false negative pericardial ultrasound evaluations secondary to a concomitant pericardial laceration and subsequent decompression of hemorrhage from the cardiac rupture into the ipsilateral pleural space.

Combination of blunt cardiac and pericardial injury presenting a massive hemothorax without hemopericardium

Case

A 64-year-old man was injured after falling from a height of 5 m and was transported to our institution. On presentation, his hemodynamic state was unstable, and both focused assessment with sonography for trauma and enhanced computed tomography imaging revealed massive left pleural effusion, but no pericardial effusion. He went into cardiopulmonary arrest just before surgery, so an urgent left anterolateral thoracotomy followed by open chest cardiac massage and aortic clamping were carried out. By performing an additional right anterior thoracotomy, a left pleuropericardial laceration and a perforation measuring 1 cm in diameter at the left ventricle were found. The patient's dynamic state stabilized following the restoration of hemostasis by suturing the rupture site.

Outcome

The patient's postoperative course was favorable, and he was discharged after 20 days of hospitalization.

Conclusion

Blunt cardiac and pericardial injury rarely causes massive hemothorax with no hemopericardium, resulting in hemorrhagic shock.

Trauma sternotomy for presumed haemopericardium with incidental coccidioidal pericarditis

Background

Disseminated cocciodiomycosis with extrapulmonary disease occurs in less than 1% of infected patients, with few cases involving the pericardium reported in the literature. A subxiphoid window in a focussed assessment with sonography for trauma is a fast and reliable study for detecting haemopericardium in the haemodynamically unstable injured patient.

Methods

Case report and literature review.

Case report

A 50-year old man presented in extremis following a stab wound to the right thoracoabdominal region with a positive pericardial ultrasound. At the time of emergent sternotomy, the pericardial effusion appeared non-traumatic and not the cause of haemodynamic instability. Lung, diaphragm, liver and transverse colon lacerations were controlled by laparotomy. He was discovered to have extensive adenopathy within the mediastinum, porta hepatis, and lesser sac, which after histopathologic examination, demonstrated granulomatous lymphadenitis consistent with disseminated cocciodiomycosis.

Conclusions

This case report describes the first reported “incidental” pericardial effusion in a haemodynamically unstable patient sustaining a thoracoabdominal stab wound discovered on a positive ultrasound study. Emergent operative exploration and subsequent workup determined the pericardial fluid to be of infectious origin, rather than traumatic. With the incidence of cocciodiomycosis within endemic geographic regions significantly rising, coccidioidal pericarditis may become an increasingly relevant cause of fluid detected on noninvasive pericardial examination.

Screening for occult penetrating cardiac injuries

OBJECTIVE

To determine the sensitivity of emergency department ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of occult cardiac injuries.

BACKGROUND

Internationally, US has become the investigation of choice in screening patients for a possible cardiac injury after penetrating chest trauma by detecting blood in the pericardial sac.

METHODS

Patients presenting with a penetrating chest wound and a possible cardiac injury to the Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Centre between October 2001 and February 2009 were prospectively evaluated. All patients were hemodynamically stable, had no indication for emergency surgery, and had an US scan followed by subxiphoid pericardial window exploration.

RESULTS

There were a total of 172 patients (median age = 26 years; range, 11-65 years). The mechanism of injury was stab wounds in 166 (96%) and gunshot wounds in 6. The sensitivity of US in detecting hemopericardium was 86.7%, with a positive predictive value of 77%. There were 18 false-negatives. Eleven of these false-negatives had an associated hemothorax and 6 had pneumopericardium. A single patient had 2 negative US examinations and returned with delayed cardiac tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of US to detect hemopericardium in stable patients was only 86.7%. The 2 main factors that limit the screening are the presence of a hemothorax and air in the pericardial sac. A new regimen for screening of occult injuries to make allowance for this is proposed.

The peril of thoracoabdominal firearm trauma: 984 civilian injuries reviewed

BACKGROUND

Thoracoabdominal firearm injuries present major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges because of the risk for potential injury in multiple anatomic cavities and the attendant dilemma of determining the need for and correct sequencing of cavitary intervention. Injury patterns, management strategies, and outcomes of thoracoabdominal firearm trauma remain undescribed across a large population.

METHODS

All patients with thoracoabdominal firearm injury admitted to a major Level I trauma center during a 16-year period were reviewed.

RESULTS

The 984 study patients experienced severe injury burden; 25% (243 of 984) presented in cardiac arrest, and 75% (741 of 984) had an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 3 or greater in both the chest and the abdomen. Operative management occurred in 86% (638 of 741). Of the patients arriving alive, 68% (507 of 741) underwent laparotomy alone, 4% (27 of 741) underwent thoracotomy alone, and 14% (104 of 741) underwent dual-cavitary intervention. Negative laparotomy occurred in 3%. Diaphragmatic injury (DI) occurred in 63%. Seventy-five percent had either DI or hollow viscus injury. Cardiac injury was present in 33 patients arriving alive. Despite the use of trauma bay ultrasound, 44% of the patients with cardiac injury underwent initial laparotomy. In half of this group, ultrasound did not detect pericardial blood. The need for thoracotomy, either alone or as part of dual-cavitary intervention, was the strongest independent risk factor for mortality in those arriving alive.

CONCLUSION

Greater kinetic destructive potential drives the peril of thoracoabdominal firearm trauma, producing clinical challenges qualitatively and quantitatively different from nonfirearm injuries. Severe injury, on both sides of the diaphragm, generates high operative need with low rates of negative exploration. The need for emergent intervention and a high incidence of DI or hollow viscus injury limit opportunity for nonoperative management. Even with ultrasound, emergent preoperative diagnosis remains challenging, as the complex combination of intra-abdominal, thoracic, and diaphragmatic injuries can provoke misinterpretation of both radiologic and clinical data. Successful emergent management requires thorough assessment of all anatomic spaces, integrating ultrasonographic, radiologic, and clinical findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiologic study, level III.

What's new in operative trauma surgery in the last 10 years

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the latest operative trauma surgery techniques and strategies, which have been published in the last 10 years. Many of the articles we reviewed come directly from combat surgery experience and may be also applied to the severely injured civilian trauma patient and in the context of terrorist attacks on civilian populations.

RECENT FINDINGS

We reviewed the most important innovations in operative trauma surgery; the use of ultrasound and computed tomography in the preoperative evaluation of the penetrating trauma patient, the use of temporary vascular shunts, the current management of military wounds, the use of preperitoneal packing in pelvic fractures and the management of the multiple traumatic amputation patient.

SUMMARY

The last 10 years of conflict has produced a wealth of experience and novel techniques in operative trauma surgery. The articles we review here are essential for the contemporary care of the severely injured trauma patient, whether they are card for in a level 1 trauma center or in a field hospital at the edge of a battlefield.

Current management of penetrating torso trauma: nontherapeutic is not good enough anymore

A highly organized approach to the evaluation and treatment of penetrating torso injuries based on regional anatomy provides rapid diagnostic and therapeutic consistency. It also minimizes delays in diagnosis, missed injuries and nontherapeutic laparotomies. This review discusses an optimal sequence of structured rapid assessments that allow the clinician to rapidly proceed to gold standard therapies with a minimal risk of associated morbidity.

Sternotomy or drainage for a hemopericardium after penetrating trauma: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine if stable patients with a hemopericardium detected after penetrating chest trauma can be safely managed with pericardial drainage alone.

BACKGROUND

The current international practice is to perform a sternotomy and cardiac repair if a hemopericardium is detected after penetrating chest trauma. The experience in Cape Town, South Africa, on performing a mandatory sternotomy in hemodynamically stable patients was that a sternotomy was unnecessary and the cardiac injury, if present, had sealed.

METHODS

A single-center parallel-group randomized controlled study was completed. All hemodynamically stable patients with a hemopericardium confirmed at subxiphoid pericardial window (SPW), and no active bleeding, were randomized. The primary outcome measure was survival to discharge from hospital. Secondary outcomes were complications and postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients were randomized to sternotomy and 56 to pericardial drainage and wash-out only. Fifty-one of the 55 patients (93%) randomized to sternotomy had either no cardiac injury or a tangential injury. There were only 4 patients with penetrating wounds to the endocardium and all had sealed. There was 1 death postoperatively among the 111 patients (0.9%) and this was in the sternotomy group. The mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay for a sternotomy was 2.04 days (range, 0-25 days) compared with 0.25 days (range, 0-2) for the drainage (P < 0.001). The estimated mean difference highlighted a stay of 1.8 days shorter in the ICU for the drainage group (95% CI: 0.8-2.7). Total hospital stay was significantly shorter in the SPW group (P < 0.001; 95% CI: 1.4-3.3).

CONCLUSIONS

SPW and drainage is effective and safe in the stable patient with a hemopericardium after penetrating chest trauma, with no increase in mortality and a shorter ICU and hospital stay. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00823160).

The J-wave: a new electrocardiographic sign of an occult cardiac injury

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a J wave on the electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect an occult cardiac injury in patients following penetrating chest trauma.

METHOD

A prospective study conducted on patients admitted to the Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Centre following penetrating chest trauma during the period of 1st October 2001 and 28th February 2009, who did not have an indication for emergency surgery and that underwent an ECG and later a subxiphoid pericardial window (SPW) for a potential cardiac injury. All the patients were easily resuscitatable with less than 2l of crystalloid. A standard 12-lead ECG was performed shortly after admission. A J wave was defined as the small positive reflection on the R-ST junction.

RESULTS

There were 174 patients where an ECG was performed and the patient underwent SPW for a possible cardiac injury. The mean age of the patients was 28 years (range 11-65). The mechanism of injury was stab wounds in 167 patients and 7 low velocity gunshot wounds. A J-wave was present on the ECG in 65 (37%) of the 174 patients with a possible cardiac injury. The sensitivity of a J wave to detect a hemopericardium was 44%, specificity was 85%, and positive predictive value of 91% (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of a 'J' wave on ECG signifies a significant risk of an occult cardiac injury after penetrating thoracic trauma.

Penetrating cardiac injury and the significance of chest computed tomography findings

In rare circumstances, hemodynamically stable patients can harbor serious penetrating cardiac injuries. We hypothesized that chest computed tomography (CCT) is potentially useful in evaluation. The records of all patients admitted to our center with wounds to the precordium or who sustained a hemothorax or pneumothorax after penetrating torso injuries over a 48-month period were reviewed. Those having an admission CCT were studied. The potential diagnostic value of hemopericardium (HPC) and pneumopericardium (PPC) on CCT was examined. Most of the 333 patients were male [293 (88.0 %)] with a roughly equal distribution of gunshot [189 (56.8 %)] and stab [144 (43.2 %)] wounds. Mean age was 28.7 ± 12.6 years. Thirteen (3.9 %) patients had cardiac injuries that were operatively managed. Eleven (3.3 %) CCT studies demonstrated HPC and/or PPC. Ten of these patients had an injury with one false positive. Retained hemothorax and proximity findings on the three false negative CCT studies led to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or subxiphoid exploration with diagnosis of the injury. HPC and/or PPC on CCT had a sensitivity of 76.9 %, specificity of 99.7 %, positive predictive value of 90.9 %, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.1 % for cardiac injuries. However, including all findings that changed management, CCT had a sensitivity and NPV of 100 %. CCT is a potentially useful modality for the evaluation of cardiac injuries in high-risk stable patients. The presence of HPC and/or PPC on CCT after penetrating thoracic trauma is highly indicative of a significant cardiac injury.

Does hemopericardium after chest trauma mandate sternotomy?

BACKGROUND

Recently, three patients with hemopericardium after severe chest trauma were successfully managed nonoperatively at our institution. This prompted the question whether these were rare or common events. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with similar injuries to test the hypothesis that trauma-induced hemopericardium mandates sternotomy.

METHOD

Records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients at a Level I trauma center (December 1996 to November 2011) who sustained chest trauma with pericardial window (PCW, n = 377) and/or median sternotomy (n = 110).

RESULTS

Fifty-five (15%) patients with positive PCW proceeded to sternotomy. Penetrating injury was the dominant mechanism (n = 49, 89%). Nineteen (35%) were hypotensive on arrival or during initial resuscitation. Most received surgeon-performed focused cardiac ultrasound examinations (n = 43, 78%) with positive results (n = 25, 58%). Ventricular injuries were most common, with equivalent numbers occurring on the right (n = 16, 29%) and left (n = 15, 27%). Six (11%) with positive PCW had isolated pericardial lacerations, but 21 (38%) had no repairable cardiac or great vessel injury. Those with therapeutic versus nontherapeutic sternotomies were similar with respect to age, mechanisms of injury, injury severity scores, presenting laboratory values, resuscitation fluids, and vital signs. Multiple logistic regression revealed that penetrating trauma (odds ratio: 13.3) and hemodynamic instability (odds ratio: 7.8) were independent predictors of therapeutic sternotomy.

CONCLUSION

Hemopericardium per se may be overly sensitive for diagnosing cardiac or great vessel injuries after chest trauma. Some stable blunt or penetrating trauma patients without continuing intrapericardial bleeding had nontherapeutic sternotomies, suggesting that this intervention could be avoided in selected cases.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level III.

Chest computed tomography for penetrating thoracic trauma after normal screening chest roentgenogram

BACKGROUND

Chest computed tomography (CCT) is a method of screening for intrathoracic injuries in hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating thoracic trauma. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in utilization of CCT over time and evaluate its contribution to guiding therapeutic intervention.

METHODS

A level 1 trauma center registry was queried between 2006 and 2011. Patients undergoing CCT in the emergency department after penetrating thoracic trauma as well as patients undergoing thoracic operations for penetrating thoracic trauma were identified. Patient demographics, operative indications, use of CCT, injuries, and hospital admissions were analyzed.

RESULTS

In all, 617 patients had CCTs performed, of whom 61.1% (371 of 617) had a normal screening plain chest radiograph (CXR). In 14.0% (51 of 371) of these cases, the CCT revealed findings not detected on screening CXR. The majority of these injuries were occult pneumothoraces or hemothoraces (84.3%; 43 of 51), of which 27 (62.8%) underwent tube thoracostomy. In only 0.5% (2 of 371), did the results of CCT alone lead to an operative indication: exploration for hemopericardium. The use of CCT in our patients significantly increased overall (28.8% to 71.4%) as well as after a normal screening CXR (23.3% to 74.6%) over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of CCT for penetrating thoracic trauma increased 3.5-fold during the study period with a concurrent increase in findings of uncertain clinical significance. Patients with a normal screening CXR should be triaged with 3-hour delayed CXR, serial physical examinations, and focused assessment with sonography for trauma; and CCT should only be used selectively as a diagnostic modality.

Use of ultrasonography by veterinary surgeons in small animal clinical emergencies

Computed tomography may be the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing haemorrhage after trauma; however, it has limited availability in veterinary medicine, requires sedation or anaesthesia to restrain the animal, and is expensive. Ultrasound, in many situations, offers a portable, rapid and economic alternative. This article reviews the use of ultrasound by veterinary surgeons in the emergency setting. Both thoracic and abdominal applications are described.