Severe right ventricular contusion mimicking cardiac tamponade: The value of transesophageal echocardiography in blunt chest trauma

Abstract

Clinically, severe right ventricular contusion may mimic cardiac tamponade. We report two cases of suspected cardiac tamponade after blunt chest trauma in which the diagnosis of severe right ventricular contusion was made only by transesophageal echocardiography, avoiding unnecessary and hazardous pericardiocentesis. These cases illustrate the value of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing blunt chest trauma. © 1993 American College of Emergency Physicians.