DELAYED SEQUELAE OF PENETRATING CHEST TRAUMA - A PLEA FOR EARLY STERNOTOMY

Penetrating wounds of the anterior chest wall are often associated wit h cardiac tamponade. Eighty to ninety percent of stab wounds to the he art result in acute tamponade, whereas delayed cardiac tamponade or he mothorax are rare, but hurtful for the patient. Of the cases reviewed, fifty percent of the patients who underwent sternotomy required repai r of cardiac injuries. The presented case report adds further justific ation for early sternotomy in case of precordial penetrating chest inj ury in the danger zone.