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Published on: October 11, 2024
[Blunt right atrial rupture]
Masanori Murakami1, H Ito, M Hayashi
1First Department of Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Insights
Blunt atrial rupture from chest trauma is rare but deadly. Early diagnosis with echocardiography and CT, followed by surgical repair, led to good outcomes in three patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Atrial rupture from blunt chest trauma is a rare but life-threatening condition with high mortality.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for patient survival.
Observation:
- Three patients with blunt chest trauma presented with hypotension and loss of consciousness.
- Echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed pericardial effusion in all cases, aiding in the diagnosis of cardiac rupture.
- Surgical exploration identified atrial tears in two patients; one required cardiopulmonary bypass due to cardiogenic shock.
Findings:
- Surgical repair of atrial tears, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, resulted in uneventful recovery for all three patients.
- Echocardiography and CT are valuable diagnostic tools for identifying cardiac rupture following blunt chest trauma.
- While repair without cardiopulmonary bypass is common, its use is recommended for patients in cardiogenic shock due to diagnostic challenges.
Implications:
- This case series highlights the importance of considering atrial rupture in patients with severe blunt chest trauma.
- The findings support the utility of advanced imaging and tailored surgical approaches for managing this rare injury.
- Further research into the mechanisms and optimal management strategies for blunt atrial rupture is warranted.
Abstract:
Atrial rupture without other major injury following blunt chest trauma is rare, but carries high mortality rate. Here we report 3 cases of blunt atrial rupture. All patients presented with hypotension and loss of consciousness. Echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated pericardial effusion in all cases. All patients underwent surgery with a median sternotomy. Tear of the right atrium was seen in 2 patients, and no remarkable tear was seen in 1 patient. One of the 3 patients underwent surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass because he showed cardiogenic shock. Pericardiocentesis before the operation was not effective. All patients were discharged uneventfully. Echocardiography and CT were useful for diagnosis of cardiac rupture. In most reported cases, the cardiac tear has been repaired without using cardiopulmonary bypass. However, it is difficult to diagnose location of the tear, therefore, the repair became safer using cardiopulmonary bypass for the patients with cardiogenic shock. This article has described the mechanisms and generation of blunt chest trauma lesions.
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