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Ventricular septal rupture in a 4-year-old child following blunt chest injury

Anita Saxena1, Sureshkumar Ramasamy, V Devagourou

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Sciences Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. anitasaxena@hotmail.com

Pediatric Cardiology
|October 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A child experienced ventricular septal rupture after blunt chest trauma. Surgical repair successfully closed the defect, improving the child's hemodynamic status.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Blunt chest trauma can lead to cardiac injuries.
  • Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are rare but serious consequences of trauma.
  • Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for patient outcomes.

Observation:

  • A 4-year-old child presented with delayed symptoms following blunt chest injury.
  • Progressive hemodynamic deterioration was noted over 12 hours post-injury.
  • Echocardiography revealed a large defect in the muscular ventricular septum.

Findings:

  • The child sustained a traumatic ventricular septal rupture.
  • Surgical intervention successfully closed the large VSD.
  • Post-operative recovery and hemodynamic stabilization were achieved.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for delayed presentation of traumatic VSDs.
  • Echocardiography is a vital tool for diagnosing such injuries.
  • Surgical VSD closure is an effective treatment for traumatic ruptures.

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