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Case Reports
. 2020 Jul-Sep;23(3):361-363.
doi: 10.4103/aca.ACA_214_18.

Suspicion of penetrating cardiac injury: Curing or caring?

Affiliations
Case Reports

Suspicion of penetrating cardiac injury: Curing or caring?

Nicolas Imbert et al. Ann Card Anaesth. 2020 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Cardiac trauma; chest computed tomography; focused assessment with sonography for trauma; penetrating cardiac injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Electrocardiogram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Panel a: Chest CT – scan: It reveals a 2-cm diameter encapsulated false aneurysm, which seemed to be in continuity with the free wall of the right ventricle. Panel b: Transthoracic ultrasonography image demonstrating flow into the false aneurysm from right ventricle – Right ventricle in diastole

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