Blunt traumatic rupture of the right atrium and the right superior pulmonary vein

Blunt trauma to the chest may produce a spectrum of cardiac lesions extending from asymptomatic myocardial contusion to rapidly fatal cardiac rupture. A case is discussed in which a patient with signs of cardiac tamponade after blunt trauma was found to have a rupture of the atrium. During repair of the cardiac injury, an unusual tear of the right superior pulmonary vein was also discovered. Both injuries were successfully repaired and the patient recovered.