Survival following resuscitative thoracotomy for combined left ventricle and left atrium ruptures secondary to blunt trauma.
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.
Fitzgerald
Mark
M
Emergency & Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. m.fitzgerald@alfred.org.au
Basu
Abhishek
A
Rahman
Fatima
F
Russell
T John
TJ
Hines
Jane
J
Gooi
Julian
J
Marasco
Silvana
S
Bezer
Lamia
L
Effeney
Peter
P
Bunbury
Kerryn
K
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*