SW to heart

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I would have obtained a formal ECHO as I dont always trust my FAST, just being honest

john porter
university of mississippi


-----Original Message-----
From: Errington Thompson <errington at erringtonthompson.com>
To: Trauma International emailing list <trauma-list at trauma.org>
Sent: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 5:56 am
Subject: SW to heart



Question - I had a gentleman who tried to end it all the other night.  He
had a SW (slash) to the neck and a single SW inside the cardiac box.  The
patient was hemodynamically stable.  CXR revealed a left effusion.  I did a
FAST in the ER then I CT of the chest with contrast.  My FAST was negative
for pericardial fluid.  The CT was read as a small amount of fluid at the
apex of the heart.  I took the patient to the OR and explored the neck
wound.  Left chest tube 500cc out then nothing.  Who would have explored
this patient's chest?  

 

Next morning the patient's heart rate was 100- 110.  BP 120/70.  Partner
takes the patient to the OR for a pericardial window.  It is positive.
Cardiac surgery finds a non-bleeding laceration to the left ventricle.  Who
would have taken this patient to the OR?

 

Thoughts?

 

Errington C. Thompson, MD, FACS, FCCM

Trauma/Surgical Critical Care

Talk Show Host - WPEK 880 AM

Asheville, NC 

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