Grande Antonino M, Rinaldi Mauro, Pasquino Stefano, Dore Roberto, Viganò Mario
Divisione di Cardiochirurgia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Sep;76(3):923-5. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(03)00197-8.
Nonpenetrating chest trauma can cause cardiac rupture. Ventricles are affected more frequently than atria. Survival is rare and depends upon prompt diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention. We report the case of a 42-year-old man involved in a car accident with consequent right atrial rupture and pericardial tearing.