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Case Reports
. 2003 Feb;75(2):581-2.
doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(02)04298-4.

Pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation after blunt chest trauma

Jacques T Janson  1 , David G Harris, Johann Pretorius, Gawie J Rossouw
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation after blunt chest trauma

Jacques T Janson et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Feb.

Abstract

Pericardial rupture after blunt chest trauma is rare and is associated with a high mortality rate. We describe a patient with traumatic pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation who was successfully treated surgically. Traumatic pericardial rupture is difficult to diagnose preoperatively but should be suspected whenever there is severe blunt chest trauma. If pericardial rupture is not recognized and treated promptly it could be fatal owing to cardiac herniation.

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Comment in

  • Blunt chest trauma and tube thoracostomy.
    Tekeli A, Akgun S. Tekeli A, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Feb;77(2):754-5; author reply 755. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01165-2. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004. PMID: 14759485 No abstract available.

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