<prompt> The most important factor that influences the outcome of penetrating cardiac injuries is:Comminuted tear of a single chamber.Multiple-chamber injuriesCoronary artery injury.Tangential injuries.  <response>: Multiple studies in the literature confirm that injuries to the coronary arteries are the most important factor in determining outcome after a penetrating cardiac injury. Tangential injuries are the least serious. Injury to a single chambereven if comminutedor to multiple chambers is less likely to be fatal than are injuries that involve a major coronary artery. 