The place of angiography in the evaluation of traumatic injuries to the heart and coronary arteries.

The mechanisms leading to traumatic injuries of the heart and coronary arteries and the typical lesions found are analyzed in light of experience with a total of 21 cases from several centers. The indications for angiography are discussed. Early angiography may be used for the emergency verification of a valvular, coronary, or myocardial rupture after intensive treatment has stabilized the patient's condition; in such situations the relative indications for angiography versus immediate surgery must be determined. Delayed angiography may be used in the more usual situations in which clear, persistent anomalies of a clinical, electric, or radiologic nature are observed.