[Therapy refractory sinus tachycardia following polytrauma]

The course of a 20-year-old patient with head injury and fractures of the ribs is reported, in whom sinus tachycardia has now persisted for three years. Antiarrhythmic treatment with calcium antagonists, beta-blocking agents and digitalis did not reduce the rate of the tachycardia. Contusio cordis, as well as different mechanisms of arrhythmias after cerebral trauma are discussed.