RT Book, Section A1 Ross, Christopher A1 Schwab, Theresa A2 Tintinalli, Judith E. A2 Stapczynski, J. Stephan A2 Ma, O. John A2 Yealy, Donald M. A2 Meckler, Garth D. A2 Cline, David M. SR Print(0) ID 1121495563 T1 Cardiac Trauma T2 Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071794763 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1121495563 RD 2024/03/28 AB Detection of cardiac injuries is critical for patient survival. Penetrating cardiothoracic injury causes 25% of deaths immediately following trauma, and the majority of these fatalities involve either cardiac or great vessel injury.1 Cardiac injury may account for up to approximately 10% of deaths from gunshot wounds.2 The incidence of blunt cardiac injury has been reported to range anywhere from 8% to 71%.3 Suspect the diagnosis of cardiac and great vessel injury in a patient with chest, lower neck, epigastric, or precordial injury. Closely observe for evidence of hemodynamic instability, loss of circulating blood volume, electrocardiographic changes, cardiac tamponade, and hemothorax.