Herida cardiaca por arma de fuego. Presentación clínica y conducta terapéutica

The heart wounds from firearms are rare but are a potentially serious condition for the high morbidity and mortality they entail. For a 14 year old patient admitted to our hospital in critical condition, intubation and hemodynamic compromise after being shot by a firearm described in left chest. An ECG showed diffuse ST-segment elevation. Chest radiography reported the presence of metallic foreign body left chest density. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the presence of cardiac tamponade and a rounded image hyperdense level posterolateral wall of left ventricle (LV). Signs of hemodynamic and diastolic collapse of the right atrium and right ventricle and significant respiratory changes in mitral and tricuspid flows filling. A view confirmed cardiac tamponade and the presence of the projectile housed in VI and to the situation of extreme gravity moved to the operating room urgently evacuating plugging and removing the shell. The patient improved. In conclusion, early recognition of cardiac penetrating injury and early intervention is crucial, especially in symptomatic and hemodynamic compromise subjects.