Cardiac contusion in the patient with multiple injuries

We have treated 20 patients with multiple injuries and concomitant myocardial contusion. The diagnosis of myocardial contusion was based mainly on serial ECG tracings which showed arrhythmias, dynamic ischaemic patterns or conduction disturbances. The clinical and laboratory findings of cardiac contusion are sometimes indistinguishable from those found in multiple injuries. Furthermore, they are overshadowed by the overt manifestation of cerebral, thoraco-abdominal and skeletal injuries. Awareness and prompt diagnostic measures are essential in the diagnosis of cardiac injury. Strict cardiac monitoring following multiple trauma will prevent serious or even fatal outcome of cardiac injury.