Isolated rupture of the left atrial appendage after blunt chest trauma.
Traumatic cardiac damage is caused by penetrating or blunt injury.The majority of disruptures in blunt trauma are the result of deceleration traumas. We present the case of an 8-year-old boy who fell off his horse. Afterwards the horse stepped on his chest. He was successfully treated for pericardial tamponade due to an isolated left appendage rupture. The lesion was probably caused by a sudden elevated intra-atrial blood pressure during chest compression.
Hermans
Kurt
K
Department of Cardiology, St Dimpna Hospital, Geel, Belgium. hermanskurt@yahoo.com
Vermeulen
Jan
J
Meyns
Bart
B
D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries*; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery