Coronary artery trauma in chest wall injury.
BACKGROUND
Blunt chest trauma is a rare but important cause of coronary artery occlusion. Coronary damage may occur with even relatively minor chest injuries. The diagnosis of cardiac injury can be difficult in the setting of chest wall trauma as the usual findings of chest pain, cardiac enzyme assay and ECG are unreliable diagnostic tools.


OBJECTIVE
A case is presented demonstrating the diagnosis difficulties.


CONCLUSIONS
An ECG abnormality in the setting of even minor chest injury requires assessment with echocardiography and, if abnormal, angiography. Currently angiography is the definitive diagnostic test and allows for therapeutic intervention as appropriate but coronary artery ultrasound may find a place in management. Further management depends on the time of diagnosis and the presence of other injuries.
Pinn
T G
TG
Nambour General Hospital, Queensland.
D000328:Adult; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography