title: Trauma as a life-lengthening agency--a biologic paradox.
abstract: Traumatic antero-posterior chest compression in two persons promptly (immediately?) following spontaneous rupture of acute, free wall myocardial infarcts created pericardio-pleural fistulae with resultant relief of pericardial tamponade, thus permitting cardiac contractions to occur after they naturally and ordinarily would have ceased.
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D012151:Resuscitation; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality*