title: Right atrial rupture from blunt thoracic trauma in a 4-year-old child.
abstract: Blunt cardiac injury in the pediatric population has been less frequently reported than in the adult population. Cardiac chamber rupture is a rare but highly lethal injury in both populations. The lethality of this condition is further enhanced by the multiplicity of injuries that are frequently present. The diagnosis of cardiac chamber rupture is often delayed while other injuries are being addressed. A high index of suspicion and early use of the appropriate imaging studies are essential for the timely diagnosis of this condition. In this report, we present a 4-year-old child who survived 10 hours of pericardial tamponade secondary to blunt right atrial rupture.
authors.affiliation: Inova Regional Trauma Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Hani M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Seoudi
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Albus
authors.forename: Samir M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fakhry
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries*; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery