[Penetrating knife injury to the heart treated with emergency department thoracotomy--case report].

Penetrating cardiac injuries usually result in an excessive bleeding and a cardiac tamponade with a very high mortality. If patients reach hospital alive, or within 15 minutes after no signs of life are found, an emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) can be indicated. However, the indications and outcome of this procedure have been debated. We report a 40 year old male that sustained a cardiac stab injury, causing a cardiac tamponade and a circulatory arrest. By performing an EDT with a pericardiotomy and direct cardiac massage, his circulation could be restored and the perforation of the heart sutured. Twelve months later the patient is in good health. This case shows that an EDT can be life saving in patients with penetrating cardiac injuries.