title: Myocardial contusion: a case study of a myocardial infarction.
abstract: Injuries from blunt trauma can occur from a variety of causes. Myocardial contusion is the most common injury resulting from blunt, nonpenetrating trauma to the chest. The potential hemodynamic changes seen with a blunt chest trauma victim are often insidious and confusion. Diagnosing a myocardial contusion concomitant with other traumatic injuries can often be delayed, especially in light of the fact that immediate cardiac dysfunction may be slow in manifesting symptoms. Through use of a case study approach, this article demonstrates that a myocardial contusion has many similarities in terms of pathophysiologic changes with that of a myocardial infarction, often confusing symptoms and therefore diagnosis and treatment.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bearden
mesh_terms: D003288:Contusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003422:Critical Care; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy