title: Myocardial contusion in blunt chest trauma: a ten-year review.
abstract: A retrospective review was undertaken of 169 patients admitted to an Intensive Therapy Unit with a major chest injury to determine the incidence, clinical features and outcome of patients with myocardial contusion. This injury occurred in 29 (17%) patients, of whom 24 (83%) had significant cardiovascular complications and five died as a direct result of the injury. The interval between injury and diagnosis was 3.2 +/- 2.3 days (mean +/- SD) from injury and in six patients the diagnosis was made only at necropsy. Increased awareness of myocardial contusion is required for earlier diagnosis and prevention of complications.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003288:Contusions / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*