title: Survival following resuscitative thoracotomy for combined left ventricle and left atrium ruptures secondary to blunt trauma.
abstract: Improvements in pre-hospital care and the development of integrated Trauma Systems have streamlined access for the severely injured to sophisticated, specialist Trauma Centre reception and resuscitation. We describe the initial care of a survivor of combined ruptures of the left ventricle and left atrium secondary to blunt injury. This case emphasises the contribution of such a Trauma System in achieving a favourable outcome for a severely injured trauma patient with injuries previously considered non-survivable.
authors.affiliation: Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. m.fitzgerald@alfred.org.au
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: T John
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gooi
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marasco
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bezer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Effeney
authors.forename: Kerryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bunbury
mesh_terms: D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000293:injuries; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000601:surgery*