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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Traumatic ischaemic cardiomyopathy in a 27-year-old: a case report
Aishwarya E Pastapur1, Abbas Bitar2, Brett L Wanamaker2
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Background:
Coronary injury after blunt chest trauma is rare. This case illustrates the importance of evaluating for coronary injury after any episode of blunt chest wall trauma.
Case Summary:
We review the case of a 27-year-old male who presented with acutely decompensated heart failure several months after a motor vehicle accident with chest wall impact from the steering wheel. Coronary angiography demonstrated an occluded left anterior descending artery, and he was found to have a severe ischaemic cardiomyopathy. After multiple hospital and intensive care unit admissions due to multi-organ dysfunction and debility, he was unable to tolerate any guideline-directed medical therapy. He was unable to be listed for heart transplantation due to his co-morbidities, multi-system sequelae of his heart failure, deconditioning, and recent substance use. He was ultimately discharged home with hospice.
Conclusion:
Coronary or other cardiac injuries should be considered in the evaluation of all patients after blunt chest wall trauma, regardless of prior risk factors for ischaemia.
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