Surgical repair of atrial septal rupture due to blunt trauma

Multiple heart and pericardial lacerations due to blunt trauma from assault

A case of 80-year-old woman who died of hemorrhagic shock as a consequence of multiple heart and pericardial lacerations as well as myocardial contusion due to blunt trauma from assault is reported. At postmortem examination, fractures of the body of the sternum and bilateral ribs were detected. A laceration of the anterior left-sided pericardium, a 2.8-cm linear tear in the right venous sinus from the origin of the inferior to the origin of the superior vena cava, a 3-cm laceration between the venous sinus and the right auricle, and a 2-cm tear in the anterior wall of the left atrium, behind the aortic trunk, were visible. Multiple heart and pericardial lacerations were thought to be caused by compression of the heart between sternum and vertebrae, together with multiple rib fractures and extensive movements of the sternum toward the spine as a result of kicking.

Left atrial dissection: pathogenesis, clinical course, and transesophageal echocardiographic recognition

Left atrial dissection is an uncommon entity. It is generally associated with mitral valve replacement, but other predisposing factors should be considered in pathogenesis. We discuss a series of 11 patients with pathologically confirmed left atrial dissection who had been diagnosed previously by transesophageal echocardiography. Predisposing factors and surgical or pathologic findings were reviewed to identify the pathogenic mechanism and to explain the clinical course, hemodynamic disorder, and echocardiographic features. Dissection of the coronary sinus secondary to retrograde cardioplegia, endocarditis, cardiac rupture after myocardial infarction, and blunt chest trauma also could be related to its development. Transesophageal echocardiography identified a mobile intimal flap of the atrial wall that was creating a false chamber and allowed accurate diagnosis of prosthetic mitral valve function, endocarditis complications, and a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after acute myocardial infarction. Color flow Doppler was particularly useful in identifying complications: communication between the false chamber and true left atria, permitting mitral regurgitation through the periannular route; development of atrial shunts; and severe tricuspid regurgitation caused by disruption of the anterior papillary muscle.