title: Coronary artery rupture in blunt thoracic trauma: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blunt thoracic trauma can rarely result in coronary artery injury. Blunt trauma can result in occlusion of any of the coronary arteries or can lead to its rupture and bleeding. Traumatic coronary artery occlusion can lead to myocardial infarction, while its rupture and bleeding can result in hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade, and can be rapidly fatal. Survival after coronary artery rupture in blunt thoracic trauma is exceedingly rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a young male who sustained a blunt thoracic trauma in a motor vehicle collision, that resulted in rupture of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and subsequent cardiac tamponade. Prompt surgical intervention with pericardiotomy and ligation of the artery has resulted in survival of the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of traumatic coronary artery rupture, early surgical intervention is crucial to avoid mortality. Ligation of the injured coronary is a viable option in selected cases, and can be the most expeditious option in patients in extremis.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Street, Ar Rawabi, Riyadh, 11676, Saudi Arabia. hmeidanj@pmah.med.sa.
authors.forename: Jareer Heider
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abu-Hmeidan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Arief Ismael
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Arrowaili
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Street, Ar Rawabi, Riyadh, 11676, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Raid Said
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yousef
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Street, Ar Rawabi, Riyadh, 11676, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alasmari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Street, Ar Rawabi, Riyadh, 11676, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yasser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hamad Hamad
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Aldakhil Allah
authors.affiliation: Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aljenaidel
authors.affiliation: Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah Abdulmohsen
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alabdulqader
authors.affiliation: Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muath Hamad
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Alrashed
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Mulfi Ibrahim
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Alkhinjar
authors.affiliation: Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University School of Medicine, Airport Road, Riyadh, 13318, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nawwaf Rahi
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Al-Shammari
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D012421:Rupture; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Blunt trauma; Case report; Coronary artery rupture; Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery; Thoracic trauma