Contusio cordis, not an innocent diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Trauma Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery

Background:

• Blunt chest trauma can cause cardiac valvular lesions, a rare but significant complication.
• Early diagnosis and management are crucial for patients presenting with hemodynamic instability or pulmonary edema post-trauma.

Observation:

• Two cases of traumatic valvular heart disease are presented: severe mitral regurgitation post-blunt chest trauma and severe aortic regurgitation due to coronary cusp rupture after a motorcycle accident.
• Both patients experienced significant valvular dysfunction requiring surgical intervention.

Findings:

• Successful surgical repair was achieved in both cases, leading to complete patient recovery.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering traumatic valvular lesions in the differential diagnosis of cardiac complications after chest trauma.

Implications:

• Physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for traumatic valvular lesions in patients with unexplained hemodynamic compromise or pulmonary edema after chest trauma.
• Timely surgical management of traumatic valvular heart disease can significantly improve patient outcomes and prevent long-term complications.