Background and aim of the study: Cardiac wounds have been described for centuries and still remain to be fatal. For a long period of time, the suturing of a myocardial laceration was thought to be absolutely impossible if not sacrilege.
Methods: It is only at the end of the 19th century that pioneers decided to defy such a dogma in desperate cases.
Results: Nowadays, it seems obvious that a cardiac stab wound requires emergent surgery whenever possible.
Conclusions: The story of cardiac wounds highlights nicely the change of mind that is required to accept progress and new procedures in medicine.
Keywords: surgical history.
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