Open AccessImpalement Injury to The Heart
Author(s) -
S.C. Pradhan,
Ram P. Sapkota,
Umesh Shrestha,
R Amatya,
Bhagawan Koirala
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
kathmandu university medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.166
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1812-2078
pISSN - 1812-2027
DOI - 10.3126/kumj.v9i1.6270
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricle , surgery , penetrating trauma , cardiology , blunt
Cardiac impalement injury is rare and one of the most severe penetrating chest injuries, often fatal. The management of penetrating cardiac injuries is a challenging one. The success in management of impaling cardiac trauma requires stabilization of the impaling object, expeditious transfer to a facility for open heart surgery, rapid imaging, access to blood and blood products and a ready surgical team. We report a case of impalement injury to the heart by a stick, transfixing the right ventricle and its successful treatment.