@article{ref1,
title="Penetrating wounds to the heart: a wartime experience",
journal="Annals of thoracic surgery",
year="1989",
author="Jebara, V. A. and Saadé, B.",
volume="47",
number="2",
pages="250-253",
abstract="Forty-nine war casualties with penetrating cardiac wounds were treated at the Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital between April 1975 and December 1987. All the wounds were caused by high-velocity missiles. An aggressive approach was utilized. Emergency room thoracotomy was performed in 17 &quot;lifeless&quot; patients, 4 of whom survived. Twenty-seven of the 32 patients who were in stable enough condition to undergo initial repair in the operating room survived. Overall survival was 63% (31/49). No intracardiac injuries were diagnosed in survivors, and no cardiac reoperations were required. Careful analysis of the trajectory of the missile or missiles and a portable chest roentgenogram were the most important factors for diagnosing a penetrating wound to the heart and for predicting potential associated injuries.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-4975",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}