Unexpected traumatic rupture of left atrium mimicking aortic rupture

Left atrial (LA) rupture is rare following blunt chest injury. We describe a case of blunt LA rupture that was treated surgically. This report is intended to alert practitioners for a need of a close multiple disciplinary collaborations among them for optimal management of patients with this type of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of emergencies, trauma and shock Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 310 - 312
Main Authors Alameddine, Abdallah K, Alimov, Victor K, Alvarez, Carlos, Rousou, John A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2014
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
Subjects
Aortic rupture
Blood pressure
blunt trauma
Case Report
Case studies
Chest
Emergency medicine
Hemorrhage
Injuries
left atrial rupture
mediastinal hematoma
Ostomy
Trauma
left atrial rupture
mediastinal hematoma
Aortic rupture
blunt trauma
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Summary:Left atrial (LA) rupture is rare following blunt chest injury. We describe a case of blunt LA rupture that was treated surgically. This report is intended to alert practitioners for a need of a close multiple disciplinary collaborations among them for optimal management of patients with this type of trauma; because other non-cardiac injuries involving the head, abdomen, or extremities are considered covariates for in-hospital mortality. As in the present case, the patient eventually died from associated extrathoracic injuries. The diagnosis of LA rupture is by exclusion. However, the initial radiological reading may be misinterpreted, because this injury can easily be mistaking for an aortic rupture. The final reappraisal of the chest imaging studies should be interpreted by a skilled radiologist to avoid misdiagnosis. Subtle radiological features can help distinguish aortic thoracic injury as illustrated in this patient. These factors may be useful to the practicing surgeon in deciding surgical approach.
ISSN:0974-2700
0974-519X
DOI:10.4103/0974-2700.142767