Delayed sequelae of penetrating chest trauma: a plea for early sternotomy.

Penetrating wounds of the anterior chest wall are often associated with cardiac tamponade. Eighty to ninety percent of stab wounds to the heart result in acute tamponade, whereas delayed cardiac tamponade or hemothorax are rare, but hurtful for the patient. Of the cases reviewed, fifty percent of the patients who underwent sternotomy required repair of cardiac injuries. The presented case report adds further justification for early sternotomy in case of precordial penetrating chest injury in the danger zone.