Penetrating cardiac injuries: Clinical classification and management strategy

1 November 1994

journal article
review article
Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in British Journal of Surgery

Vol. 81 (11) , 1572-1575
https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.1800811106

Abstract

The management of penetrating cardiac injury is controversial. To facilitate decision making, a simple clinical classification of patients with such an injury is proposed. Five categories are considered: (1) lifeless, (2) critically unstable, (3) cardiac tamponade, (4) thoracoabdominal injury and (5) benign presentation. Investigation, if indicated, and the timing and setting of surgical intervention are discussed for each category.

Keywords

This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:

Penetrating cardiac injuries
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1991
Demography of Penetrating Cardiac Trauma
Annals of Surgery, 1989
The Injured Heart
Surgical Clinics of North America, 1989
Quantifying the Severity of Anatomic and Physiologic Injury
Annals of Surgery, 1987
Liberal use of emergency center thoracotomy
The American Journal of Surgery, 1986
Cardiac Wounds
Annals of Surgery, 1986
Management of Penetrating Cardiac Injuries: The Role of Emergency Room Thoracotomy
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1984
Outcomes of Trauma Patients with No Vital Signs on Hospital Admission
Published by Wolters Kluwer Health ,1983
Emergency Room Thoracotomy for the Resuscitation of Patients with “Fatal” Penetrating Injuries of the Heart
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1981
The Role of Emergency Room Thoracotomy in Trauma
Published by Wolters Kluwer Health ,1980