Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2008 Oct;41(5):633-635.

Left Atrial Rupture with Stable Vital Signs: A case report

• Jeong JH
• Cho SW
• Shin YC
• Lee HS
• Kim KI

Abstract

Cardiac rupture after blunt chest trauma is a relatively uncommon diagnosis, and it is associated with a very high mortality rate. A 41-years-old man crashed his car into a guardrail and he was then transported to hospital. Although unstable vital signs are the most common symptoms of cardiac injury, this patient had stable vital signs. The chest CT scan showed pericardial effusion, and echocardiography did not clearly reveal cardiac tamponade, but the right atrium was slightly collapsed. Cardiac injury was suspected, and surgery was commenced for obtaining the diagnosis and treatment. A 2 cm laceration at the junction of the left atrium and the left inferior pulmonary vein was discovered and this was repaired with 4~0 Polypropylne monofilament sutures. We report here on the successful management of a patient with left atrial rupture following blunt chest trauma.

Keyword

Cardiac rupture; Trauma; Blunt trauma

MeSH Terms

Cardiac Tamponade
Echocardiography
Heart Atria
Heart Rupture
Humans
Lacerations
Pericardial Effusion
Pulmonary Veins
Rupture
Sutures
Thorax
Vital Signs