Management of cardiac penetrating injuries: A propos of a case

Abstract

A 24 year old policeman presented with massive subcutaneous emphysema on the left side of the thorax with severe dyspnea after a motor vehicle accident. There were no clinical and radiographic signs of cardiac injury before the operation except the pneumediastinum. An incomplete laceration of the left ventricle and combined lung injury due to broken ribs were succesfully repaired. The rib fractures and pneumomediastinum may be considered as an alert sign for the possibility of concomitant cardiac injury after blunt thoracic trauma.