TY - JOUR
AR - SCR-2019-2-117
TI - Dual chamber cardiac rupture following blunt thoracic trauma
AU - Amy M. , Kwok
AU - David R. , Jeffcoach
AU - James W. , Davis
AU - Lawrence , Sue
AU - Mary M. , Wolf
AU - Sammy S. , Siada
AU - Victor W. , McCray
JO - Surgical Case Reports
PY - 2019
DA - Tue 07, May 2019
SN - 2613-5965
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.SCR.2019.02.017
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/dual-chamber-cardiac-rupture-following-blunt-thoracic-trauma_SR-SCR-2019-2-117 
KW - Blunt cardiac rupture,  thoracic trauma,  massive transfusion
AB - Introduction: Cardiac rupture following blunt thoracic trauma is rare. When diagnosed, these injuries have
a mortality rate approaching 90%. Although there are reports of dual chamber cardiac rupture, there are no
documented survivors from this injury.
Case Report: A fifty-year-old man presents after high speed motor vehicle crash. On arrival, he was
hypotensive with massive right hemothorax. He progressed to asystole but pulse was regained and he went
to the operating room. Upon right thoracotomy we encountered a right pericardial laceration and his incision
was converted to bilateral thoracotomy (clamshell). He was found to have both right and left atrial rupture.
Both injuries were rapidly repaired. The patient survived to discharge neurologically intact.
Discussion: Cardiac chamber rupture is rare and often fatal. Survival can occur with dual chamber rupture
if swift action is taken and all members of the team work together.