Left ventricular rupture with resulting cardiac tamponade due to blast force trauma from gunshot wound

Acute cardiac tamponade can rapidly become a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention. Common etiologies of acute cardiac tamponade include blunt or penetrating trauma, surgical complications, sequelae from myocardial infarction and effusion.

This case report illustrates an instance where penetrating trauma mimics non-penetrating blunt force trauma.

The following is a report of a woman who died from cardiac tamponade secondary to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. This case is unique because the pericardium was not perforated; the left ventricle sustained numerous lacerations from the blast forces upon discharge of the weapon, resulting in a hemopericardium.

This article defines cardiac tamponade, presents the case, and discusses shotgun ballistics, wounding mechanisms, and blunt force trauma.