TITLE:
Blunt Traumatic Pericardial Rupture—Case Report and Literature Review
AUTHORS:
Hongbin Wang, Min Li
KEYWORDS:
Traumatic Rupture of the Pericardium; Diagnosis; Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.4 No.10,
October
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Pericardial rupture following blunt chest trauma is rare and
associated with high mortality rate ranging from 30% to 64%. We review 42 cases
which have been reported in the literature in last 17 years and report a case
of our own. We have found that 83% of the cases were men with a mean age of 49
years. The most frequent cause was traffic accidents (79%). Preoperative
diagnosis of traumatic rupture of the pericardium has been improved in recent
17 years, and the result is satisfactory. Early detection, timely treatment is
the key. Pneumopericardium may be a valuable radiographic clue for diagnosis.
The management of pericardial rupture is mainly to avoid the risk of cardiac strangulation
or acute tamponade. If the injury is recognized timely, treatment is simple and
effective.