The great mimic: how E-FAST unmasked a cardiac rupture masquerading as head trauma

A 50-year-old man was brought to the Emergency Department (ED) following a loss of consciousness (LOC) at his workplace. Although the initial presentation suggested a traumatic etiology, the systematic application of E-FAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) revealed a large pericardial effusion, leading to the diagnosis of cardiac rupture secondary to subacute myocardial infarction. This case highlights the critical role of point-of-care ultrasound in the early evaluation of undifferentiated LOC and trauma, enabling rapid identification of life-threatening non-traumatic conditions.