Transoesophageal echocardiographic examination of a patient with venacaval and pericardial tears after blunt chest trauma.

A 58-yr-old male was admitted with blunt thoracic and abdominal trauma. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed acutely to determine the cause of intrathoracic haemorrhage. We found atrial septal haematoma and tear, which have not been described previously, and which may be useful indicators of major intrathoracic venous tears which are always difficult to diagnose. Although the outcome was not altered in this case, we feel that TEE is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of acute thoracic trauma.