stabbed heart

[caesar ursic]

Dr. Mattox, please allow me to ask for your opinion re. the use of the Foley
balloon catheter in the intitial management of penetrating cardiac
injuries.  When is it indicated?  With what type of wound or in which
scenario?  Can it be over-used?  You do mention it once in Top Knife for
controlling a "large wounde."  What are you and your surgical attendings
teaching the residents at the BTGH re. Foley catheters in the heart?  Unless
Houston has mellowed outconsiderably, you must still be seeing quite a few
of these injuries on a regular basis.
Thanks.
CMU


On 5/2/07, KMATTOX at aol.com <KMATTOX at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 5/2/2007 10:46:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> trauma at emergencyunit.com writes:
>
> I have  no idea where this urban myth originated, but there has been clot
> in
> every  paricardium I have opened in trauma and I don't expect the next to
> be
> any  different.
>
> BFM
>
>
>
> I have had patients with "hemopericardium" that I opened where I did not
> find clot, but these were patients who were not acute, and whose source of
> the
> blood in the pericardium was many weeks or months prior.
>
> k
>
>
>
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