Cardiovascular distortion in experimental nonpenetrating chest impacts.

High-speed cineradiography and flash radiography were used to determine cardiac distortion and the motion of the heart within the thorax following nonpenetrating chest impact. Maximum ventricular distortion occurred approximately 3 ms after impact which was also the time of maximum chest wall displacement. Between +3 ms and +10 ms the heart moved posteriorly and regained much of its initial shape. Maximal posterior displacement of the body of the heart occurred at approximately +10 ms. Three-dimensional reconstruction showed that the heart moved caudally and to the right, with little rotation. The aortic arch moved cranially with consequent stretching of the thoracic aorta.