ABSTRACT
Penetrating cardiac injuries lead to shock in a very short period of time because of bleeding and/or pericardiac tamponade. The prognosis is determined by the early diagnosis and operation. Sudden death occurs in 16-35% of these patients. Another one third of them expire during the transport to a hospital or during the preparation for the surgery. Based on 3 cases successfully treated, the authors emphasizes that because of the short time frame only basic examinations should be done without causing any delay in performing thoracotomy. As these patients are not candidate for further transport to another institute, personal and instrumental background should be organized in general surgical wards to treat penetrating thoracic and cardiac injuries. It is suggested to clarify the exact extension of the injury and to treat the possible complications in special cardiac surgical units after the life threatening situation is treated.
