Blunt intrapericardial rupture of the pulmonary artery in a surviving patient.
Blunt chest trauma can produce a number of potentially lethal injuries, including pulmonary artery rupture. Survivors of pulmonary artery injuries are rare. Most previously reported surviving patients presented with hemothorax from a hilar injury. We report a patient who survived a blunt rupture of the intrapericardial portion of the pulmonary artery and thus presented with pericardial tamponade. The interventions that led to her survival are discussed.
Clements
R H
RH
Department of Surgery, Carraway Methodist Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35234, USA.
Wagmeister
L S
LS
Carraway
R P
RP
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010496:Pericardium; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D012421:Rupture; D017741:Survivors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery