Incomplete ventricular septal rupture following blunt chest trauma--a case report.
This report describes a case of traumatic incomplete rupture of the ventricular septum, a rare complication caused by blunt chest trauma. Although a serial ECG progressed its course similar to acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction in this case, there was little clinical clue of septal tear. The diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography. The authors chose a conservative line of management rather than surgical repair for incomplete septal rupture because of the patent's stable clinical course and hemodynamic status. A sequence of echocardiography during a 32-day stay in the hospital showed no change in the extent of incomplete septal rupture, septal structure, systolic function, and shape of left ventricle and also obtained no evidence of shunting through the rupture. In conclusion, echocardiography is a useful investigation to make a diagnosis as well as for follow-up in case of incomplete ventricular septal rupture. A close follow-up of incomplete septal rupture with serial echocardiography should be performed, because several cases of delayed ventricular septal rupture following blunt chest trauma have been reported.
Kashima
Yuichiro
Y
Department of Cardiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. kashima@qc4.so-net.ne.jp
Kinoshita
Osamu
O
Ikeda
Uichi
U
Yajima
Noriyuki
N
Imamura
Hiroshi
H
Urayama
Hiroaki
H
Iwashita
Tomomi
T
Sekiguchi
Yukio
Y
Akita
Shingo
S
Wada
Noriko
N
Okamoto
Kazufumi
K
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001510:Bed Rest; D004452:Echocardiography; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018658:Ventricular Septal Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents