Sinus bradycardia associated with traumatic haemothorax.
A 39-year-old male suffered a closed chest deceleration injury. He presented with clinical and radiological signs consistent with trauma to the thoracic aorta, but also developed sinus bradycardia which was relieved by drainage of a haemothorax. The possible mechanisms of the changes in heart rate are discussed and direct compression of the vagus nerve is proposed to explain this previously unreported finding.
Kong
R S
RS
Major Injurites Unit, Birmingham Accident Hospital.
Wood
P R
PR
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000209:etiology; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications