Successful Suture of Ruptured Myocardium after Nonpenetrating Injury

Abstract

PENETRATING injuries of the heart secondary to bullet or stab wounds are not uncommon. Their diagnosis is not difficult, and management of such cases by conservative and surgical measures has surprisingly good results.^{1 2 3 4} Not so well appreciated, however, is another type of cardiac trauma produced by concussive or contusive forces. Such injuries may also lead to disruption of cardiac musculature, serious hemorrhage and an ultimately fatal issue if not discovered and treated promptly.^{5 , 6} Bright and Beck,⁵ in an extensive review of 168 fatal cases, revealed that, of these, 30 patients who lived longer than an hour might have been helped . . .