Aortic insufficiency and cardiac herniation associated with blunt chest trauma.

Aortic insufficiency and cardiac herniation due to pericardial rupture after blunt chest trauma are rare complications and are usually associated with high mortality. We report on a patient with simultaneous aortic insufficiency and cardiac herniation. He was involved in a falling accident, but initially presented no symptoms associated with the heart. At a later stage, he developed dyspnea on effort and a final diagnosis was completed. He was successfully treated surgically.