title: Isolated fracture of the ventricular septum after blunt chest trauma.
abstract: Isolated rupture of of the ventricular septum after blunt chest trauma is a very rare traumatic affection. A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of blunt chest trauma and a forearm fracture. Initial echocardiography did not show any intracardiac or extracardiac pathologic lesions, but 12 hours later this examination was repeated because of the onset of a holosystolic murmur. An unusual traumatic rupture of the ventricular septum was demonstrated. The hemodynamically stable condition of the patient allowed surgical repair to be performed 3 months later.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Berdat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Carrel
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000293:injuries*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*