Myocardial dysfunction following blunt chest trauma.
We prospectively studied 35 patients with blunt chest trauma using ECG multi-gated and first-pass nuclear angiography. Radionuclide angiography (RNA) is a sensitive test of myocardial function demonstrating right and left ventricular ejection fractions. First-pass angiography, in addition, shows left ventricular segmental wall motion, a qualitative as well as anatomic indicator of left ventricular function. We saw RNA abnormalities in 26 patients (74.2%). Eight patients (22.8%) had ECG abnormalities, and these findings correlated with RNA, suggesting that this technique is a very sensitive indicator of myocardial dysfunction following trauma. These studies warrant further experimental and clinical evaluations to determine the cause, significance, and long-term prognosis of posttraumatic myocardial dysfunction.
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D003288:Contusions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging