Right atrial free wall rupture after blunt chest trauma.
We report the case of an 18-year-old man, victim of a car accident, presenting with severe hypotension and signs of cardiac tamponade. Transoesophageal echocardiography was suggestive of right atrial free wall rupture. The patient underwent urgent cardiac surgery for repair of right atrial rupture. The immediate clinical outcome was favourable; the patient is in good general condition at 24-month follow-up. The right atrium is rarely involved in cardiac contusion as compared to the right ventricle or other cardiac structures, owing to its anatomical location and direction of physical forces.
De Maria
Elia
E
Division of Cardiology, S. Maria Nuova Hospital, Viale Risorgimento 1, Reggio Emilia, Italy. e.demaria@inwind.it
Gaddi
Oscar
O
Navazio
Alessandro
A
Monducci
Igor
I
Tirabassi
Giovanni
G
Guiducci
Umberto
U
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries*; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications