Rupture of the left ventricle due to blunt trauma – A pediatric case study and literature review

Abstract Tamponade due to rupture of the chambers of the heart, in particular the left ventricle, after blunt thoracic trauma is described only sparsely in the literature. Most cases involve multiple thoracic trauma following motor vehicle accidents. We present the case study of a five-year old victim of a household accident, in which two concrete basins apparently fell on him. He died rapidly, despite attempted resuscitation. The autopsy showed essentially a hemorrhagic extravasation of the diaphragm and mediastinum, hemopericardium, and massive damage to the apex of the left ventricle. Pathological exam confirmed the traumatic origin of the cardiac rupture, with no underlying pathology. We will discuss the mechanisms described in the literature that result in such lesions, the mechanism which we believe most probable in this case, and the importance of background information. In our case study, lack of specific information concerning the accident prevents a definitive conclusion of the exact mechanism that caused this massive trauma particularly due to the fact that the external examination couldn’t find any lesion in favor of a thoracic or abdominal traumatism. To our knowledge, in context of a household accident, such an isolated lesion causing almost immediate death has not previously been described in the literature.