[Injury of the heart and pericardium].

The analysis of 138 patients with injuries of the heart and pericardium has been made. The article describes the problems of diagnosis of different injuries, the diagnostic value of pericardial puncture and pericardiotomy using different anatomic access. The article also discusses possibility of conservative therapy by pericardial puncture and a removal of blood. It was demonstrated that the diagnosis of the heart injury is an absolute indication for surgery and that the pericardial puncture is just a temporary procedure to prepare for the operation.