Sinus bradycardia associated with traumatic haemothorax

A 39-year-old male suffered a closed chest deceleration injury. He presented with clinical and radiological signs consistent with trauma to the thoracic aorta, but also developed sinus bradycardia which was relieved by drainage of a haemothorax. The possible mechanisms of the changes in heart rate are discussed and direct compression of the vagus nerve is proposed to explain this previously unreported finding.