Analysis of diagnosis and treatment of penetrating cardiac trauma

Objective: To summarize the experience in diagnosis and treatment of penetrating cardic trauma(PCT).Methods: A retrospec-tive study was carried out in 11 PCT patients treated with surgical approaches from December 1995 to December 2005.Pericardiopuncture was performed in 10 patients with a deep venous puncture needle,and 9 cases obtained positive results;a central venous catheter was put in the pericardial cavity of the patients for decompression drainage.All the patients received surgical treatment.Ten patients were operated on in the operating room and one in the emergency room.In this study,anteriolateral thoracotomy was performed in 10 cases and midsternal thoracotomy in one.Results: All the patients were cured,leaving no complications.Conclusions: Early diagnosis is the precondition of successful treatment.Diagnosis is made according to the wound of chest wall and clinical manifestation.Pericardiopuncture can not only confirme the diagnosis,but also win time for the surgery before operation.Emergency thoracotomy is essential for patients with PCT,and the operative approach is based on the site and size of the wound of heart.