Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Feb 1998
Case Reports[Aortic rupture after blunt chest trauma. Rapid diagnosis using transesophageal echocardiography when radiographic and computed tomographic findings are unclear].
A 37-year-old woman who was not wearing a seat-belt while driving a car had a head-on collision at 70 km/h. On arrival of the emergency physician she was awake and responsive but complained of pain with bruising over the sternum and the epigastrium. Pressure on the sternum was painful. Arterial pressure was 95/60 mm Hg, heart rate 112/min. On admission the heart sounds were unremarkable and peripheral pulses normal. Vesicular sounds were heard over both lungs. In addition to multiple facial abrasions voluntary movements were impaired and the right knee-joint was swollen. ⋯ After blunt thoracic or deceleration trauma earliest possible TEE is indicated, because it can at once provide details of extent and degree of injury to heart and/or aorta.