Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2001 Feb;34(2):173-175.

Cardiac Rupture Combined with Massive Right Hemothorax by Blunt Chest Trauma: A report of two cases

• Joung EK
• Lee BW
• Yoon YH
• Back WK
• Kim KH
• Rhyu SH
• Kim HS
• Kim JT

Abstract

Patients with cardiac rupture due to blunt trauma have more than 50% mortality rate and most of them expire before they arrive at the hospital emergency room. Since patients typically present with cardiac tamponade, the diagnosis can be easily confirmed with physical examination, echocardiography, and chest CT scan. However, in our case of the massive hemothorax on right side without evidence of cardiac tamponade, the diagnosis for cardiac rupture does not seems to be easy. Therefore, we must assume the probability of cardiac rupture if we plan an explo-thoracotomy in a patients with massive right hemothorax without rib fracture. We describe two cases of cardiac rupture combined with pericardial laceration and right massive hemothorax by blunt chest trauma. The ruptured hearts of the patients were successfully closed using cardio-pulmonary bypass or cell saver system without detrimental sequelae.

Keyword

Heart rupture; Hemothorax

MeSH Terms

Cardiac Tamponade
Diagnosis
Echocardiography
Emergency Service, Hospital
Heart
Heart Rupture*
Hemothorax*
Humans
Lacerations
Mortality
Physical Examination
Rib Fractures
Thorax*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed