title: Blunt cardiac trauma: atrioventricular valve disruption and ventricular septal defect.
abstract: Nonpenetrating cardiac trauma resulting in cardiac chamber or valvar rupture is uncommon, requiring a high degree of suspicion for diagnosis. A case involving avulsion of the tricuspid and mitral papillary muscles with resultant interventricular septal rupture is reported. This case illustrates the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in the rapid diagnosis of blunt cardiac trauma. Surgical treatment of this condition is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236-5300, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000293:injuries*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000293:injuries*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000293:injuries; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating