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- Matthew J Wall, Kenneth L Mattox, and Dwayne A Wolf.
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mwall@bcm.tmc.edu
- J Trauma. 2005 Jul 1; 59 (1): 136-41; discussion 141-2.
BackgroundBlunt injury of the pericardium with strangulation of the heart is a rare clinical injury.MethodsWe conducted a review of clinical records and performed prospective collection of forensic data from a large urban medical examiner's office.ResultsTen cases of blunt injury to the pericardium were identified. All were secondary to blunt trauma. Nine of the 10 cases had associated chest wall injuries and 5 of the 10 cases had cardiac strangulation.ConclusionPericardial lacerations are common findings at autopsy. Clinically, those that survive to the hospital have a confusing presentation. They are often diagnosed during emergent thoracotomy for hemodynamic instability. Hemodynamic deterioration associated with change in patient position may be a clue to cardiac strangulation.
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