RADIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DAMAGE TO THE HEART AND LARGE CHEST VESSELS IN COMBAT TRAUMA

R.Ya. Abdullaiev; E.I. Grechanik; R.R. Abdullaiev; Z.N. Kot; R.V. Gybalo; Ya.V. Tsymbaliuk; F.I. Kulikova; A.G. Sirko; A.G. Kyrychenko; N.V. Tomakh

doi:10.34921/amj.2025.1.011

Authors

R.Ya. Abdullaiev Kharkiv National Medical University
E.I. Grechanik National Military Medical Clinical Center "Main Military Clinical Hospital"
R.R. Abdullaiev Kharkiv National Medical University
Z.N. Kot National Military Medical Clinical Center "Main Military Clinical Hospital"
R.V. Gybalo National Military Medical Clinical Center "Main Military Clinical Hospital"
Ya.V. Tsymbaliuk Ukrainian National Academy of Medical Sciences
F.I. Kulikova Dnepropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital
A.G. Sirko Dnepropetrovsk Regional Clinical Hospital
A.G. Kyrychenko Ukrainian State Research Institute of Medical and Social Disability Problems of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
N.V. Tomakh Ukrainian State Research Institute of Medical and Social Disability Problems of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34921/amj.2025.1.011

Keywords:

radiological diagnosis, combat trauma, large chest vessels

Abstract

This article presents the results of a radiological diagnostic study on injuries to the heart and major chest vessels sustained during combat operations. The study involved 38 patients, recording a total of 46 injuries (31 heart injuries, 13 aortic injuries, and 2 pulmonary artery injuries), of which 7 were blunt injuries and 39 were shrapnel wounds. It was shown that hemopericardium was registered in 27 (58.7±7.3%) cases, pseudoaneurysm − in 11 (23.9±6.3%) cases (P<0.001).
In the diagnosis of metal fragments, the sensitivity of radiography was 97.2%, specificity – 66.7%, accuracy - 94.9%; the sensitivity of ultrasound was 94.3%, specificity - 75.0%, accuracy - 92.3%. The sensitivity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of hemopericardium was 96.0%, specificity - 50.0%, accuracy - 92.6%.
According to the data obtained, despite the limited use of ultrasound in assessing complications of penetrating chest trauma, the method has sufficient sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing shrapnel wounds of the heart and blood effusion in the pericardial cavity. No significant differences were found between radiography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of metal fragments.