The Journal of invasive cardiology
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Automobile airbags have been universally installed to save lives in motor vehicle accidents, but have also been linked with facial and thoracic burns and chest trauma during rapid deployment. Blunt trauma to the chest may result in electrical and mechanical injuries to the heart and great vessels. ⋯ Although mechanical complications resulting from airbag injury have been reported in the past, this is the first report of an acute thrombotic coronary occlusion triggered by the rapid airbag deployment. The case underscores the importance of systematic clinical evaluation to guide management in patients with confounding clinical presentation.