Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1993-3-24
pubmed:abstractText
One hundred nineteen patients suffered penetrating cardiac trauma over a 15-year period: 59 had gunshot wounds, 49 had stab wounds, and 11 had shotgun wounds. The overall survival rate was 58%. The most commonly injured structures were the ventricles. Twenty-seven patients had injuries to more than one cardiac chamber. Thirty patients had associated pulmonary injuries. Emergency thoracotomy was performed in 47 patients with 15% survival. Median sternotomy was used in 30 patients with 90% survival. Seventeen of the 83 patients with thoracotomies required extension across the sternum for improved cardiac exposure or access to the contralateral hemithorax. Only one patient with sternotomy also required a thoracotomy. All pulmonary injuries were easily managed when sternotomy was used. We conclude that sternotomy provides superior exposure for cardiac repair in patients with penetrating anterior chest trauma. We feel it is the incision of choice in hemodynamically stable patients. Thoracotomy should be reserved for unstable patients requiring aortic cross-clamping, or when posterior mediastinal injury is highly suspected.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0022-5282
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
34
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
17-20
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1993
pubmed:articleTitle
Surgical approach of choice for penetrating cardiac wounds.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article