title: Left atrial rupture following blunt thoracic injury. Case report.
abstract: A 22-year-old man presented with intermittent tachycardia and left-sided flail chest after an automobile accident. Initially his condition was stable, but 7 hours after the injury cardiac asystole appeared. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately begun and operation was performed. A rupture of the left atrium was successfully repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Järvinen
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Vihtonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*