Myocardial contusion: a case study of a myocardial infarction.

Injuries from blunt trauma can occur from a variety of causes. Myocardial contusion is the most common injury resulting from blunt, nonpenetrating trauma to the chest. The potential hemodynamic changes seen with a blunt chest trauma victim are often insidious and confusion. Diagnosing a myocardial contusion concomitant with other traumatic injuries can often be delayed, especially in light of the fact that immediate cardiac dysfunction may be slow in manifesting symptoms. Through use of a case study approach, this article demonstrates that a myocardial contusion has many similarities in terms of pathophysiologic changes with that of a myocardial infarction, often confusing symptoms and therefore diagnosis and treatment.