Rupture of Left Ventricle from Blunt Cardiac Trauma: Report of a Survivor and Review of the Literature

Few patients survive rupture of the heart from direct or indirect blunt trauma. Death from cardiac tamponade or hemorrhagic shock usually occurs before the patient reaches the hospital. Fourteen patients surviving after operative repair of cardiac chamber rupture are reported in the English literature. Five of these had rupture of the left atrium, 7 of the right atrium, and 2 of the right ventricle. Successful repair of a left ventricle rupture with pericardial and inferior vena caval lacerations is reported, clinical features in the patients who survived are reviewed, and management is discussed.