Browse > Article

Penetrating Injury to the Left Ventricle from a Fractured Rib Following Blunt Chest Trauma  

Oh, Tak-Hyuk (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
Lee, Sang Cjeol (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
Lee, Deok Heon (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
Cho, Joon Yong (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Trauma and Injury / v.27, no.4, 2014 , pp. 192-195 More about this Journal
Abstract
The perforation of a cardiac chamber by a fractured rib after blunt trauma is a rare event. Here, we report the case of patient who was referred for multiple rib fractures after a fall from a height. The patient was found to have a penetrating cardiac injury which was detected on a computed tomography chest scan. Computed tomography is a useful screening tool for victims of blunt chest trauma. Once cardiac perforation has been confirmed or is highly suspected, it is important to preserve the patient's vital signs until reaching the operating room by minimally manuplating the chest wall and permitting hypotension, which also prevents exsanguinating hemorrhage. For the same reasons, early cardiac tamponade may also improve the patient's survival.
Keywords
Trauma; Heart injury; Rib fracture;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Kaul P, Somsekhar G, Macauley G. Secondary left ventricular injury with haemopericardium caused by a rib fracture after blunt chest trauma. J Cardiothorac Surg 2006; 1: 8.   DOI
2 Roth T, Kipfer B, Takala J, Schmid RA. Delayed heart perforation after blunt trauma. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002; 21: 121-3.   DOI
3 Exadaktylos AK, Sclabas G, Schmid SW, Schaller B, Zimmermann H. Do we really need routine computed tomographic scanning in the primary evaluation of blunt chest trauma in patients with "normal" chest radiograph? J Trauma 2001; 51: 1173-6.   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Patel NY, Riherd JM. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma: methods, accuracy, and indications. Surg Clin North Am 2011; 91: 195-207.   DOI
5 Degiannis E, Loogna P, Doll D, Bonanno F, Bowley DM, Smith MD. Penetrating cardiac injuries: recent experience in South Africa. World J Surg 2006; 30: 1258-64.   DOI
6 Asensio JA, Murray J, Demetriades D, Berne J, Cornwell E, Velmahos G, et al. Penetrating cardiac injuries: a prospective study of variables predicting outcomes. J Am Coll Surg 1998; 186: 24-34.   DOI