Stab wound to the heart: A pictorial report and short review of the literature

A 46-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department after he was stabbed into the thorax. Initial diagnostics included immediate transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography and multiphasic multidetector computed tomography of the thorax. The latter showed pericardial fluid during the early arterial phase and effusion of contrast medium into pericardium and pleural space during the late phase. The patient was transferred to the operation theatre for immediate pericardiotomy. Massive amounts of blood were evacuated and ventricular perforation was confirmed. It was not until the penetration was surgically closed via continuous suture that adequate cardiac rythym was re-established. The patient received intensive care and was extubated 2 weeks later. Repeated computed tomography of the chest revealed cardiac aneurysm as a typical complication to the injury sustained. The patient underwent a sophisticated rehabilitation program and was discharged in a satisfactory state.