Cardiac Tamponade Following Penetrating Mediastinal Injuries: Improved Survival With Early Pericardiocentesis

Cardiac tamponade was diagnosed in 197 patients admitted over 20 years (1955-1974) to the Charity Hospital of New Orleans, for emergency treatment of penetrating mediastinal injuries. Of the 197, 174 definitively treated patients followed one of three patterns of management: 96 had OR thoracotomy, 68% were unstable, and preoperative pericardiocentesis reduced mortality from 25 to 11% (p \u3c 0.01); 44 had emergency thoracotomy, 91% were unstable, and prethoracotomy pericardiocentesis decreased mortality from 94 to 63% (p \u3c 0.05); 34 patients primarily with isolated stab wounds, were treated nonsurgically with pericardiocentesis and observation, only 50% were unstable and there was 15% mortality. Recurrent tamponade did not significantly increase overall or operative mortality in patients with pericardiocentesis. Recommendations: early, even presumptive, diagnosis of tamponade; immediate pericardial decompression via pericardiocentesis; and rapid transfer to OR for thoracotomy or sternotomy and cardiorrhaphy with continous pericardial decompression via intrapericardial catheter