Penetrating Injuries to the Lung and Heart: Resuscitation, Diagnosis, and Operative Indications

Penetrating Chest trauma with right atrium rupture - A case report

Background

Penetrating chest trauma can have lethal consequences. Anterior chest wall penetrating injury can cause fatal lacerations over the chest wall, lungs, pericardium, and the heart. There are few reports on these kinds of injuries and operative management.

Purpose

To describe a case of penetrating chest trauma with right atrium ruptured, after a fall from height. The patient was successfully managed with prompt resuscitation and definitive surgical intervention.

Case presentation

A 48-years-old gentleman presented with history of fall from height and right sided penetrating chest injury. The patient had a penetrating injury to the right-fourth intercostal space in parasternal region. Chest X-ray showed massive right-sided hemothorax and chest tube drained more than 1700 ml upon insertion. Emergency right thoracotomy was performed, after initial resuscitation with fluids and blood transfusion in the emergency department. He had injury to the intercostal arteries, lacerations of the pericardium and the right atrium ruptured, which was managed successfully with definitive repair.

Conclusion

Survival is rare after penetrating chest trauma with right atrium ruptured if not intervened on time. Prompt diagnosis and resuscitation, along with the definitive surgical repair were the key elements for successful management of the patients.