Stroke complicating traumatic ventricular septal defect.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) occurs in approximately 5% of blunt or penetrating cardiac injuries and can result in rare complications.

OBJECTIVES

To report the serious complication of stroke after a traumatic VSD.

CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old man with no previous medical history presented to the Emergency Department with aphasia and right hemiparesis after a stab wound to the chest. He underwent emergent evacuation of a pericardial effusion and repair of a right ventricular wall perforation. Head computed tomography revealed left middle cerebral artery infarct. Post-operatively, he was noted to have a cardiac murmur, and echocardiogram revealed a VSD. The VSD was surgically repaired without complication.

CONCLUSION

Stroke can complicate traumatic VSDs.