Emergency echocardiographic evaluation of penetrating chest trauma.

Penetrating chest trauma is the most common cause of acute cardiac tamponade. Clinical recognition of this potentially life threatening condition may be difficult despite well described physical signs. Failure to repair the injury causing acute cardiac tamponade may result in sudden decompensation with poor clinical outcome. Emergent use of two-dimensional echocardiography can be an extremely valuable tool in evaluating the presence of cardiac tamponade and directing subsequent clinical management.