Traumatic rupture of the pericardium with intermittent cardiac herniation in a multiple-trauma patient.

This is a case report of an 18-year-old multiply injured patient with blunt chest trauma, a total rupture of the right pericardium and an intermittent cardiac dislocation. Intermittent signs suggestive of cardiac tamponade accompanied the cardiac herniations. Acute renal failure followed these acute hemodynamic disorders. Early diagnosis and therapy were responsible for the successful outcome.