Blunt chest trauma causing right atrial tear, hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade successfully treated with cardiorrhaphy.

A 26-year-old female was involved in a car accident with impaction of the steering wheel to the anterior chest. She became unconscious immediately. Blood pressure was unmeasurable, central venous pressure was measured at 25 cm H2O. Cross-sectional echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion and a band-like blood clot in the posterior inferior aspect of the heart. At operation, a right atrial tear measuring 1 cm in length was noted and was repaired with cardiorrhaphy. She recovered uneventfully.