Penetrating cardiac injuries: a 13-year retrospective evaluation from a Brazilian trauma center

To present our experience with penetrating cardiac injuries. We have retrospectively reviewed the records of 70 victims of penetrating cardiac injuries. A logistic regression has been performed in order to determine the association between death and clinical predictors. Penetrating injuries consisted of 43 stab wounds (61.4%) and 27 (38.6%) gunshot injuries (Ps0.72). There were 63 (90%) male and 7 female (10%, P-0.001) victims. The mean age was 27.36"11.51, ranging from 3 to 65 years. The overall mortality was 32.9%, 47.8% for gunshot wounds and 52.2% for stab wounds (Ps0.266). Eight victims (11.4%) had associated intra-thoracic great vessel injuries and 17 (24.3%) presented associated intra-abdominal organ injuries. The incidence of injured chamber was: right ventricle 37.1%, right atrium 27.1%, left ventricle 25.7%, and left atrium 5.7%. Non-survivors had lower systolic blood pressure (37.50"39.18 mmHg) than survivors (79.04"41.04 mmHg; P-0.001) upon arrival at the hospital. Thirteen non-survival (56.5%) and 10 (21.3%) survival victims had systolic blood pressure (SBP) F50 mmHg (Ps0.001). The level of systolic blood pressure (SBPF50 mmHg) and consciousness upon arrival at the hospital are predictors of outcome in victims of penetrating cardiac injuries. 2005 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.