Epidemiological analysis of cardiac trauma victims at a referral trauma hospital: a 5 year case series

OBJECTIVE: to describe, analyze, and trace the epidemiological profile for cardiac trauma victims on a referral trauma hospital of a major urban center. METHODS: a case series study to review, describe, compile and analyze medical records of all patients sustaining traumatic cardiac injuries, from January 2015 to January 2020 admitted to the referral trauma hospital of Curitiba, Brazil. Patients sustaining traumatic heart injuries were identified using the hospitals database. Patients who died prior to reaching hospital care were excluded. RESULTS: all 22 cases were urban victims, mostly penetrating injuries (12 stab wounds, 9 gunshot wounds); 82% were male; mean age, 37.1 years. 17 cases (77%) occurred during night hours, 15 between Friday and Sunday, and 15 were admitted hemodynamically stable. Only 27% were diagnosed with FAST, the remainder requiring other imaging exams. About incisions, 14 had thoracotomies, 6 median sternotomies and in 2 cases both. Of injuries, 8 affected the right ventricle, 3 right atrium, 9 left ventricle, 1 right coronary sulcus and 1 anterior wall. All had cardiorrhaphy repair. 3 patients died, 17 were discharged and 2 were transferred. 17 received postoperative echocardiograms, revealing ejection fractions ranging 55.1% to 75%. Patients spent a mean of 9.6 days on ICU and a mean of 15.2 days of total hospital stay. The mortality rate was 14%. CONCLUSIONS: cardiac traumas predominantly occurred in adult males, due to violent causes, during night hours on weekends. The overall mortality rate found (14%), as well as total hospital stay, accords with the literature.