A cardiac injury and pericardial tamponade following a stab wound to the chest: a case report

Abstract

Introduction and importance: A stab wound in the heart is associated with high mortality rates. Rapid patient transfer to the closest hospital, maximal speed in establishing a diagnosis, and highly trained prompt surgical intervention are all crucial to achieving a positive result in the treatment of these critical patients. Case presentation: This report presents a 28-year-old man with a stab wound to the chest, causing pericardial tamponade and a myocardial injury that presented with shock. The patient was diagnosed by chest ultrasonography and operated on successfully after 45 min of the stab without complications. Clinical discussion and conclusion: Cardiac repair should be attempted as soon as possible if the patient with the stab wound to the heart is not dead upon arrival. The time from the stabbing to the start of the operation is vital, and any delay in the operation may lose the patient. Glasgow Coma Scale could be considered as predicting variable for complications or mortality in patients with stab heart wounds.