[Cardiac sequelae of penetrating cardiac wounds].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our work was to study cardiac sequelae of penetrating cardiac injuries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

It is a retrospective study including nine patients (eight men and one woman with an average age of 26.6 +/- 7.4 years) hospitalised between January 1st, 1988 and December 31, 2002 in cardiovascular surgery department of Tunis Rabta hospital for heart wounds.

RESULTS

It was stab wounds in all patients. Heart lesions concerned primarily the right ventricle. In admission, two patients had cardiac tamponade and seven were in shock. Beating heart surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass in all patients performed surgical repair and it consisted in simple suture. Functional symptoms were observed in five patients at late outcome. Five patients had heart sequelae. It consisted of conduction abnormalities (right bundle branch block) in five patients. One patient had a small ventricular septal defect. Finally, partial permanent disability rates were less than 10%.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac sequelae of penetrating cardiac wounds have good prognosis with the exception of a small partial permanent disability rate. Their prevention must be based on the fight against the urban violence and on the good initial management.