Forensic-medical retrospective analysis of cardiovascular injuries admitted to the emergency department

Abstract

Aim: Vascular and cardiac injuries are rare cases compared to other traumas in terms of admission rates to emergency services. Vascular emergencies secondary to trauma are among 1-2.5% of all trauma patients admitted to the emergency department. In addition, the admission rate of heart injuries is around 1%. With this study, we will analyze and interpret cardio-vascular injuries, which are rare compared to other traumas, from a forensic-medical aspect. Material and Method: This study is a retrospective cohort study using data from our hospital's automation and archive system. Patients who developed iatrogenic trauma, had solid organ injury in addition to their existing injury, were brought to the emergency room as deceased, and patients who came to the emergency room with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation were not included in the study. A total of 411 cases, 88 cardiac injuries and 323 vascular injuries, aged 16-82 years were included in the study. Results: In the 5-year analysis, the rate of life-threatening injuries due to cardiac and vascular injuries among cardiovascular emergencies is 22%. 88 patients with cardiac injury were included in this study.18 (20.5%) of the patients were female and 70 (79.5%) were male. The most common injury sites were upper extremity (43.7%), lower extremity (25.7%), thorax (21.4%), abdomen-pelvic region (4.1%), head-neck (2.6%), multiple vascular injury (2.1%), respectively. Conclusion: Cardiovascular injuries are among the traumas with high mortality and morbidity. It is important that the cases consulted to cardiovascular surgery in the emergency department are forensic cases and that the forensic reports of these cases are carefully prepared.