Blunt cardiac rupture: the utility of emergency department ultrasound.

BACKGROUND

Rupture of the heart is usually a fatal injury in patients sustaining blunt trauma. Those arriving in the emergency department alive can be saved with prompt diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

We describe the cases of 4 consecutive patients with rupture of the free cardiac wall whom we treated at Grady Hospital. Two had a tear of the right ventricle, 1 had a tear of the right atrium, and 1 had two tears of the left atrium. All patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound in 3 patients and during exploratory surgical intervention in the other. All tears were repaired primarily without the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.

RESULTS

Three of the patients survived, and 1 died.

CONCLUSIONS

Rarely are patients with rupture of the free cardiac wall seen in an emergency department. The improvements in the prehospital care and the transportation may result in an increase in the numbers of such patients. Physicians treating patients with blunt trauma must suspect the presence of cardiac rupture. Immediate use of ultrasonography will establish the diagnosis and prompt repair of the injury may improve overall survival.