Japanese heart journal
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Japanese heart journal · Jul 2000
Case ReportsIsolated right atrial tear following blunt chest trauma: report of three cases.
Blunt chest trauma causing isolated right atrial tear and cardiac tamponade in three patients is reported. All three patients presented with hypotension, elevated central venous pressure and altered consciousness. Echocardiographic examination demonstrated pericardial effusion in all three cases. ⋯ At operation, two patients had one tear in the right atrium, the other had two tears in the right atrium. All three patients recovered uneventfully. Early use of echocardiography to detect the presence of hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in patients with suspected atrial rupture following blunt chest trauma is advocated.