Ventricular septal defect from blunt chest injury.

The spectrum of cardiac trauma resulting from blunt injuries to the chest or decelerating injuries is wide and ranges from mild cardiac contusion to cardiac rupture. Ventricular septal defect can result from such injuries, either immediate or delayed, and is best corrected electively, but severe cardiorespiratory disturbance may necessitate emergency operation. Repair is performed electively if possible, but emergency repair can be successfully accomplished when necessary and requires careful reinforcing of sutures and patches. This is a case report of a successful emergency repair of ventricular septal defect resulting from blunt chest injury.