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Delayed cardiac rupture occurring two months after blunt chest trauma
Shinsaku Ueda1, Yasuhiro Ito, Toshiaki Konnai
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ishinomaki Red Cross Hospital, 71 Hebita-Nishimichisita, Ishinomaki, Miyagi 986-8522, Japan. shiueda-ths@umin.ac.jp
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|January 13, 2011
Summary
This case report details the successful surgical repair of a delayed cardiac rupture, occurring 74 days after blunt chest trauma. The injury, caused by a fractured rib, led to hemothorax but not cardiac tamponade.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Blunt chest trauma can cause delayed cardiac complications.
- Cardiac rupture is a rare but severe consequence of chest injuries.
- Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing cardiac trauma.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old female presented with left hemothorax 74 days post-blunt chest trauma.
- Emergent thoracotomy revealed a pericardial defect and left ventricular cardiac rupture near a fractured rib.
- The injury was suspected to cause time-dependent myocardial degeneration.
Findings:
- Successful surgical repair of the cardiac rupture and pericardial defect was performed.
- The cardiac rupture resulted in hemothorax, which was managed concurrently.
- Life-threatening cardiac tamponade was not observed despite the cardiac rupture.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of delayed cardiac rupture after blunt chest trauma.
- Surgical repair can be effective even in late-presenting cases.
- Understanding the mechanism of myocardial degeneration is important for predicting outcomes.
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