Reliability Of Clinical Findings And Diagnostic Methods in Potential Penetrating Cardiac Injuries

Year 2009, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 22 - 26, 01.04.2009

Mustafa Goz Omer Cakir

Abstract

Reliability Of Clinical Findings And Diagnostic Methods in Potential Penetrating Cardiac Injuries

Abstract

Objective: Penetrating cardiac injuries are fatal thoracic traumas. Many patients arrive at the hospital dead or in severe shock. Rapid hemodynamic deterioration may develop in patients exposed to cardiac trauma. Early diagnosis and rapid surgical intervention can determine the prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively false cases recognized postoperatively. Methods: Thirteen false positive or negative cases detected as a result of the surgical intervention findings in our department were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, causes of injury, time of arrival at the hospital, and emergency room examination findings, as well as the performance of the diagnostic methods used to demonstrate cardiac injury were evaluated. Results: The male to female ratio in the 13 patients was 12:1, and the mean age was 26.30± 12.83 years range 656 years . False positive or false negative cases constituted 22.41% of all potential penetrating cardiac injury cases operated on in our department. The hospital mortality rate was 15.4% 2 patients . Conclusions: Early diagnosis and emergency thoracotomy are essential for the survival of patients after cardiac injury. There are no specific diagnostic methods to guide the diagnosis of potential penetrating cardiac injuries. Therefore, we think that all patients need to be assessed on an individual basis and patient-specific diagnostic strategies should be formulated accordingly

Keywords

Cardiac Injury, Emergency Room Thoracotomy, Echocardiography, Computed Thorax Tomography

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