Penetrating cardiac trauma

Abstract EN

Penetrating cardiac injuries remain a difficult challenge to most surgeons.

They are one of the leading causes of death.

We report a case of a 25-year-old male who sustained a penetrating injury to the heart.

He was brought in unconscious state with severe shock.

Prompt aggressive resuscitation was initiated and an emergency thoracotomy performed.

The patient had uneventful recovery and he was discharged from the hospital seven days later without untoward sequelae.

The relevant literature has been reviewed.

This is the first case reported in the Salmaniya Medical Center since the establishment of medical records in 1987.