Isolated right atrial tear following blunt chest trauma

Abstract

Blunt chest trauma causing isolated right atrial tear and cardiac tamponade in three patients is reported. All three patients presented with hypotension, elevated central venous pressure and altered consciousness. Echocardiographic examination demonstrated pericardial effusion in all three cases. All three patients underwent operation with a median sternotomy approach without using cardiopulmonary bypass. At operation, two patients had one tcar in the right atrium, the other had two tcars in the right atrium. All three patients recovered uneventfully. Early use of echocardiography to detect the presence of hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in patients with suspected atrial rupture following blunt chest trauma is advocated.