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Published on: February 20, 2017
Cardiac tamponade: contrast reflux as an indicator of cardiac chamber equalization
Foeke Jacob Harmen Nauta1, Wernard Aat Antoine Borstlap, Michael Stella
1The University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
Background:
Traumatic hemopericardium remains a rare entity; it does however commonly cause cardiac tamponade which remains a major cause of death in traumatic blunt cardiac injury.
Objectives:
We present a case of blunt chest trauma complicated by cardiac tamponade causing cardiac chamber equalization revealed by reflux of contrast.
Case Report:
A 29-year-old unidentified male suffered blunt chest trauma in a motor vehicle collision. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a periaortic hematoma and hemopericardium. Significant contrast reflux was seen in the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins suggesting a change in cardiac chamber pressures. After intensive treatment including cardiac massage this patient expired of cardiac arrest.
Conclusion:
Reflux of contrast on CT imaging can be an indicator of traumatic cardiac tamponade.
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