Transfixing gunshot wound to the heart: case report.

Penetrating cardiac trauma carries high mortality rates. It has been commonly associated with stabbing, but increasing urban violence has led to growing numbers of gunshot heart wounds. The latter have higher mortality rates among penetrating cardiac injuries and may affect multiple heart chambers, with mortality rates even higher. We report a patient, victim of an attempted armed robbery, who had a transfixing gunshot wound to the heart, successfully operated at our institution.