[Case of successful repair of penetrating cardiac injury].

The penetrating cardiac injury after the chest stab wound in 33 year old patient is described. The following clinical signs indicated suspected cardiac injury: localization of injury to the region of the heart, the signs of acute bleeding and cardiac tamponade, which was also confirmed by echocardiography. During urgent thoracotomy with additional sternotomy the right ventricle injury of 1,5 cm of length was found, which required 5 stitches for repair of defect and complete hemostasis. The temporary cardiac arrest (40-50 sec) has occurred during cardiography and internal cardiac massage was performed to restore the normal cardiac rhythm. Postoperative course was uneventful and patient on the 10th day after admission was discharged from the hospital. The successful outcome of treatment of this severe group of patients could be achieved by maintenance of the following fundamental principles: rapid transport of patients to the nearest hospital, maximum rapidity in establishment of diagnosis and highly qualified urgent surgical intervention. Echocardiography is the most informative and quick method of noninvasive diagnostics of penetrating cardiac injury.