Cardiac Injuries Due To Blunt Trauma

Blunt cardiac trauma develops frequently following motor-vehicle accidents and its mortality rate is high. Early use of echocardiography for the initial assessment of severely injured patients has facilitated to detect the associated cardiac injuries. Fast transportation, urgent diagnostic workup and immediate surgical intervention to these patients with well-trained teams are very important and this approach will improve their survival. INTRODUCTION AND BRIEF HISTORY Although cardiac injuries have been known since ancient era, their surgical interventions couldn't have been possible until 19th century. In 16th century, Fabricius reported that cardiac injuries resulted in sudden death and that it was impossible to treat these injuries; even an attempt made to treat was unnecessary. First case with cardiac injury was reported by Oluff Borch. First case with myocardial contusion was defined Akenside in 1764. Pericardiocentesis as a treatment modality for cardiac injury was first recommended by Riolanus in 1649. But first successful pericardiocentesis was performed in 1829 by Larrey. Suturing a cardiac wound was first recommended by Roberts in 1881. Between years 1882 and 1885, surgical correction of cardiac wounds in experimental animals were reported. In 1897, Rehn reported the first successful repair of a penetrating cardiac wound (1).