Emergency room thoracotomy for acute traumatic cardiac tamponade caused by a blunt cardiac injury: A case report

Highlights • The physical findings of cardiac tamponade are not always apparent despite life-threatening acute cardiac tamponade after blunt trauma. • A focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) is a reliable tool for diagnosing and following cardiac tamponade. • Pericardiotomy via a thoracotomy is mandatory for lifesaving cardiac decompression in acute traumatic cardiac tamponade with ineffective drainage due to clot formation within the pericardial space.