Depends on the angle and the depth of the wound...different
organs may be damaged and the impact will vary. For example, a
penetrating chest wound just to the left of the breastbone
(sternum) in the fourth intercostal space may pierce the
ventrocular septum and the left ventricle, even severing the
mitral valve. The effect can be cardiac tamponade from a
haemopericardium (blood accumulating in the pericardial sac outside
the heart) and mitral valve regurgitation. If it pierces the
lung it can cause a pneumothorax (air accumulating in the pleural
cavity), even a tension pneumothorax which can rapidly cause
death.
