Thoraco-laparotomy approach to salvage a life-threatening cardiac box stab injury to the inferior vena cava: a case report

Torso stab injuries near the cardiac box may present unique challenges due to difficulties in hemorrhage control. For a injury heart, repair is straightforwardly performed via median sternotomy. In contrast, inferior vena cava are challenging repair, especially when they close diaphragm, and bleeding can be torrential. Herein, we describe case of self-inflicted wound within "cardiac box." The trajectory went below diaphragm injured infradiaphragmatic cava. Successful emergent thoraco-laparotomy approach revived young man. this report, revisit discuss previous large series patients with rare injury. Keywords: Injury; Veins; Heart; Case reports