title: Rupture of the atrial septum and tricuspid valve after blunt chest trauma.
abstract: A previously fit 19-year-old male driver was involved in an unrestrained, head-on collision. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed rupture of the chordae subtending both leaflets of the tricuspid valve with severe tricuspid regurgitation and disruption of the interatrial septum. When cardiac injury is suspected after blunt chest trauma, transesophageal echocardiography facilitates appropriate management as it provides safe, rapid, and accurate diagnostic images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Banning
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durrani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pillai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012421:Rupture; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*