[Luxatio cordis in blunt-trauma thoraco-abdominal injuries].

A 56-year old woman was admitted to the emergency ward after suffering a blunt thoraco-abdominal high-velocity trauma as she hit the wheel when her car drove into a tree. A laparotomy was performed because of haemodynamic instability and radiographic suspicion of a diaphragmatic rupture. Besides haemorrhage from liver and spleen injuries, an abdominal herniation of the heart through a ruptured pericardium and diaphragm was found. Haemostasis of liver, splenectomy and suturing of defects in pericardium and diaphragm resulted in a haemodynamically stable situation. A high index of suspicion of rupture of pericardium and diaphragm with luxation of the heart in the trauma patient is important to reduce morbidity and mortality due to delay of surgical intervention.