Early myocardial damage (EMD) and valvular insufficiency result in impaired cardiac function after multiple trauma in pigs.

One third of multiple trauma patients present abnormal echocardiographic (ECHO) findings. Therefore, ECHO diagnostic after trauma is indicated in case of hemodynamic instability, shock, after chest trauma and after cardiac arrest. 20 male pigs underwent multiple trauma. Blood samples were collected 4 and 6 h after trauma and concentrations of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) as a biomarker for EMD were measured. Myocardial damage was evaluated by scoring Hematoxylin-Eosin stained sections. At baseline, 3 and 6 h after trauma, transesophageal ECHO (TOE) was performed, invasive arterial and left ventricular blood pressure were measured to evaluate the cardiac function after multiple trauma. Systemic HFABP concentrations were elevated, furthermore heart injury score in multiple trauma animals was increased determining EMD. A significant decrease of blood pressure in combination with a consecutive rise of heart frequency was observed. Ongoing depression of mean arterial pressure and diastolic blood pressure were accompanied by changes in ECHO-parameters indicating diastolic and systolic dysfunction. Furthermore, a valvular dysfunction was detected. In this study complex myocardial and valvular impairment after multiple trauma in pigs has been observed. Therefore, detection of EMD and progressive valvular dysfunction might be crucial and therapeutically relevant.