Penetrating thoracic injuries can damage more than one intrathoracic structure and
frequently require urgent surgical intervention due to life-threatening consequences.
These injuries demand extreme awareness and emergency measures. This paper reports
on an unusual case with right lung and right atrio-inferiocaval junction injury caused
by a knife penetrating through the right paravertebral region of the thorax. The patient
was treated by immediate surgical repair under partial cardiopulmonary bypass and
discharged successfully. This case emphasizes the fact that right chest paravertebral
penetrating injuries may require cardiopulmonary bypass, although this zone has less
risk for cardiac injury.
Heart injuries - thoracic injuries - penetrating cardiac trauma
