Cardiac rupture following blunt trauma

Abstract

Cardiac rupture is the most extreme manifestation of blunt cardiac injury. In the first half of the 20th century this lesion was uniformly fatal. Since the first successful post-traumatic cardiorrhaphy by Desforges in 1955, multiple case reports and retrospective reviews have documented successful operative repair and survival of patients with this injury. Despite these successes, blunt cardiac rupture remains associated with a high mortality rate. The rarity of this condition and the heterogeneity of the literature make determination of exact epidemiologic data difficult. The classic clinical presentation is not universal and a subset of patients may present asymptomatically. Rapid transportation to medical care, accurate timely diagnosis and emergent operative intervention are essential for successful outcome. The use of ultrasonography in the trauma bay is a key component of early identification of these injuries. Specific outcome factors associated with survival are difficult to determine and even in those who survive to medical attention mortality rates remain as high as 60—90%.