title: Multiple heart and pericardial lacerations due to blunt trauma from assault.
abstract: A case of 80-year-old woman who died of hemorrhagic shock as a consequence of multiple heart and pericardial lacerations as well as myocardial contusion due to blunt trauma from assault is reported. At postmortem examination, fractures of the body of the sternum and bilateral ribs were detected. A laceration of the anterior left-sided pericardium, a 2.8-cm linear tear in the right venous sinus from the origin of the inferior to the origin of the superior vena cava, a 3-cm laceration between the venous sinus and the right auricle, and a 2-cm tear in the anterior wall of the left atrium, behind the aortic trunk, were visible. Multiple heart and pericardial lacerations were thought to be caused by compression of the heart between sternum and vertebrae, together with multiple rib fractures and extensive movements of the sternum toward the spine as a result of kicking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35121 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porzionato
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montisci
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000293:injuries*; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000209:etiology*; D014754:Violence; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology