Blunt rupture of the heart in a child.

The spectrum of blunt cardiac trauma ranges from injuries with no actual cellular damage (myocardial concussion) to cardiac chamber rupture. Although blunt injuries to the heart are common and potentially lethal, rupture of a cardiac chamber is rare. This injury should be suspected in any patient who presents with cardiac tamponade after blunt trauma. A child who sustained blunt rupture of the right atrium is presented, and the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these injuries are discussed.