Luxatio cordis due to right pericardium tear, a difficult diagnosis: report of a case.

BACKGROUND

Dislocation of the heart is a rare complication of thoracic blunt trauma. A high index of suspicion of pericardium rupture is necessary to formulate an early diagnosis to reduce morbidity and mortality.

PATIENTS: A 23-year-old man suffered a blunt thoracoabdominal trauma and was admitted 3 days later to a university hospital ICU for right heart luxation due to right pericardial tear. Mechanical ventilation delayed radiological findings.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

Surgery by repositioning the heart and repairing the pericardial tear allowed restoration of hemodynamic equilibrium.