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Deceleration trauma to the heart and great vessels after road-traffic accidents

M J Goggin, F D Thompson, J W Jackson

    British Medical Journal
    |June 27, 1970
    PubMed

    Insights

    High-speed car crashes can cause serious cardiovascular trauma in young men, including aortic aneurysms and valve defects. Prompt medical evaluation and imaging are crucial for diagnosis and treatment, even without external injuries.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Trauma Surgery
    • Emergency Medicine

    Background:

    • High-speed vehicular incidents pose significant risks for severe physical injury.
    • Cardiovascular trauma is a potential, often overlooked, consequence of blunt chest trauma from car accidents.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To highlight the occurrence and types of cardiovascular trauma following high-speed car crashes.
    • To emphasize the necessity of early diagnostic measures for cardiovascular injuries in trauma patients.

    Main Methods:

    • Case series review of four young male patients involved in high-speed car crashes.
    • Clinical assessment and diagnostic imaging (X-rays) to identify cardiovascular abnormalities.

    Main Results:

    • All four patients presented with significant cardiovascular trauma.
    • Diagnoses included aortic aneurysms (2), mitral valve rupture (1), and ventricular septal defect (1).
    • All patients underwent successful surgical correction of their injuries.

    Conclusions:

    • Cardiovascular trauma should be strongly suspected in individuals experiencing high-speed car crashes.
    • Diagnostic imaging, including serial X-rays, is essential for detecting these injuries, irrespective of external trauma signs.

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