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Trauma to the heart and thoracic aorta: the Copenhagen experience

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark

^* Corresponding author. Hagforsgatan 71, 416 75 Gothenburg, Sweden. Tel.: +46-31-256985; fax: +46-707-691067
moheb_rashid{at}hotmail.com

Injuries of the heart and thoracic aorta (traumatic aortic rupture, TAR) remain amongst the most challenging of all injuries seen in the field of trauma and cardiothoracic surgery. The aim herein was to present our experience of such lethal injuries treated at Denmark's busiest hospital. We found 11 patients with cardiac injuries and nine patients with TAR. Five patients with cardiac injuries presented in shock of which two died. Eight patients with TAR were operated on using bypass without paraplegia. The Danish experience of heart trauma is limited but with satisfactory results. We recommend left heart bypass to prevent paraplegia in TAR.

Key Words: Cardiac and aortic injuries; Urgent thoracotomy and sternotomy; Left heart bypass; Paraplegia; Mortality

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