title: Blunt traumatic left atrial appendage rupture and cardiac herniation.
abstract: A 42-year-old man sustained blunt thoracic trauma after a motor vehicle accident. He underwent an urgent operation. Operative findings included a large hematoma, a 4-cm tear in the left atrial appendage, and a long pleuropericardial rupture along the right phrenic nerve. We repaired the left atrial appendage without cardiopulmonary bypass, and closed the pericardial defect primarily. The patient recovered fully and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Nguyen Huu
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Pham Tho Tuan
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Anh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Tran Minh
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Trung
authors.affiliation: International Children's Heart Fund, Worcester, MA, USA atpezzella@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A Thomas
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Pezzella
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006547:Hernia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Heart rupture; heart Injuries; nonpenetrating; pericardium; wounds