Article

Blunt Traumatic Rupture of the Left Atrial Appendage

European Journal of Trauma 04/2012; 28(2):110-113. DOI:10.1007/s00068-002-1191-2 pp.110-113

ABSTRACT Background: The diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of blunt cardiac rupture is one of the challenges of trauma surgery.

Case Study: We report the case of an 18-year-old male with blunt traumatic left atrial apendage rupture who was brought to the hospital
after a fall from the sixth floor of a building. On arrival at the emergency department, he developed signs of cardiac congestion.
Ultrasonography of the heart through the subxiphoid window, as part of the focused assessment for the sonographic examination
of the trauma patient (FAST), revealed cardiac tamponade. The injury was successfully repaired after median sternotomy.

Discussion: Clinical symptoms, diagnostic considerations, and treatment modalities are commented on. The focus is on the role of FAST
as a diagnostic tool in this case.

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Keywords

18-year-old male
 
atrial apendage rupture
 
cardiac congestion
 
cardiac rupture
 
cardiac tamponade
 
Case Study
 
Clinical symptoms
 
diagnostic considerations
 
diagnostic evaluation
 
emergency department
 
focused assessment
 
median sternotomy
 
sixth floor
 
sonographic examination
 
subxiphoid window
 
trauma patient
 

Pieter Joosse