Delayed Diagnosis of Traumatic Ventricular Septal Defect in Penetrating Chest Injury: Small Evidence on Echocardiography Makes Big Difference.

Author: Kihyun JEON ¹ ; Woo Hyun LIM ; Si Hyuck KANG ; Iksung CHO ; Kyung Hee KIM ; Hyung Kwan KIM ; Yong Jin KIM ; Dae Won SOHN
Author Information

1. Cardiovascular Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cardiman@medimail.co.kr
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Ventricular septal defect; Penetrating chest trauma
MeSH: Aneurysm, False; Aorta; Delayed Diagnosis; Echocardiography; Emergencies; Fistula; Heart; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular; Humans; Lacerations; Pericardial Effusion; Thoracic Injuries; Thorax
From:Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2010;18(1):28-30
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Cardiac trauma from penetrating chest injury is a life-threatening condition. It was reported that < 10% of patients arrives at the emergency department alive. Penetrating chest injury can cause serious damage in more than 1 cardiac structure, including myocardial lacerations, ventricular septal defect (VSD), fistula between aorta and right cardiac chamber and valves. The presence of pericardial effusion (even a small amount) on the initial echocardiography might be the only clue to serious cardiac damage in the absence of definite evidence of anatomical defect in heart. We here present a case, in which clear diagnosis of VSD and pseudoaneurysmal formation was delayed a few days after penetrating chest injury due to the lack of anatomical evidence of damage.