[Cardiac contusion after traffic accident? (author's transl)].

A 62-year-old driver died 5 h after a slight traffic accident under the clinical diagnosis of "contusion cordis" in spite of an emergency thoracotomy. The post-mortem examination revealed no evidence of traumatic impact; death was attributed rather to stenosing coronary sclerosis with extensive coronary lesions and detachment of the parietal thrombuses. A causal connection in law could not be presumed; from the insurance point of view the role played by the accident, particularly in regard to the emotional excitement, was estimated at about 30%.