Coronary artery occlusion following blunt chest trauma: a case report and review of the literature.
Blunt chest trauma causing coronary artery occlusion and myocardial infarction is a rare but potentially fatal condition. We present the case of a healthy 29-year-old man who developed a myocardial infarction due to complete occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery following blunt chest trauma. A review of the literature found 63 cases of previously healthy patients under 40 years of age who developed coronary artery occlusion following blunt chest trauma; diagnosis in all cases had been proven by angiography or during autopsy. The presentation, results of electrocardiography and echocardiography and laboratory findings of these patients are described.
Guldner
Gregory T
GT
Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA. gregguldner@jfmilne.com
Schilling
Thomas D
TD