Isolated right atrial tear following blunt trauma

Cardiac chamber rupture in blunt trauma is uncommon and is associated with a high mortality rate. We report a patient involved in a motor vehicle collision with an isolated right atrial injury resulting in a pericardial effusion associated with hemodynamic compromise. A 20 year-old intoxicated female was transported after sustaining a collision in her vehicle. The patient remained mildly hypotensive and tachycardic despite volume resuscitation. FAST was negative showing good cardiac motion and no fluid in her abdomen. A CT scan revealed a mediastinal hematoma and free intra-abdominal fluid, and trans-thoracic echocardiogram (TTE) identified a mass within the right atrium associated with a pericardial effusion. In the operating room, clot was removed from within the pericardium. Hypothermic circulatory arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass were performed and a single laceration involving the right atrium was repaired after removing a large intra-atrial clot. A negative concurrent exploratory laparotomy was performed. The patient was discharged from the hospital postoperative day 6. This report presents an isolated right atrial tear associated with pericardial tamponade following blunt trauma and we discuss the role of early diagnosis and treatment.