Right massive haemothorax as the presentation of blunt cardiac rupture: the pitfall of coexisting pericardial laceration.
A 74-year old female was transferred to our institution because of blunt chest trauma. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) revealed right haemothorax and little pericardial effusion. She was taken to the operating theatre for emergent operation because of hypotension and massive bleeding from the right-sided chest tube. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started during surgical exploration. There were three 1-cm lacerations actively bleeding from the right atrium and inferior vena cava junction, which were repaired successfully. Furthermore, we identified a 10 cm laceration in the right-side pleuropericardium and a communication existing between the pericardial space and the right pleural space.
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Shao-Wei
SW
Chen
Yao-Kuang
YK
Huang
Chien-Hung
CH
Liao
Shang-Yu
SY
Wang
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000293:injuries; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
Blunt trauma; Cardiac rupture; Haemothorax; Pericardial rupture