Pectus excavatum in blunt chest trauma: a case report

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Trauma Surgery
• Medical Case Reports

Background:

• Blunt cardiac rupture is an exceptionally rare injury.
• Pectus excavatum can predispose individuals to severe thoracic trauma.
• Car accidents pose a significant risk for blunt chest trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of blunt cardiac trauma in a patient with pectus excavatum.
• To highlight the increased risk of cardiac injury in patients with pectus excavatum following blunt chest trauma.
• To emphasize the importance of high suspicion and prompt transfer to a Level I Trauma Center.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 43-year-old female with pectus excavatum involved in a car accident.
• Initial presentation with hemodynamic collapse after a period of stability.
• Intraoperative findings revealed a combined laceration of the left atrium and right ventricle.

Main Results:

• The patient, despite initial alertness, experienced hemodynamic collapse.
• Surgical exploration identified a 1-cm laceration involving the left atrium and right ventricle.
• The child involved in the accident did not sustain significant injuries.

Conclusions:

• Pectus excavatum increases the risk of cardiac rupture following blunt chest trauma due to sternum-spine compression.
• Patients with pectus excavatum and blunt chest trauma require immediate evaluation at a Level I Trauma Center.
• High index of suspicion is warranted for cardiac injury in this patient population.