Myocardial contusion. Using the index of suspicion for assessing blunt chest trauma.

The body of literature devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient with myocardial contusion (MC) frequently references the "index of suspicion" to qualify those patients at risk for cardiac embarrassment. Absent from this literature, however, is discussion of the importance of diligent nursing assessment and monitoring of these patients. This article shows the relevance of the index of suspicion to the nursing assessment of patients suspected of myocardial injury from blunt chest trauma.