BACKGROUND The chain of trauma survival is a concept that originated in the area of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and was adapted to the treatment of trauma. In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest research into bystander first aid has resulted in improved outcome. Whereas, in trauma research the first link of the chain of survival is almost ignored. METHODS In OHCA, cardiopulmonary resusci...

BACKGROUND Traumatic hemopericardium remains a rare entity; it does however commonly cause cardiac tamponade which remains a major cause of death in traumatic blunt cardiac injury. OBJECTIVES We present a case of blunt chest trauma complicated by cardiac tamponade causing cardiac chamber equalization revealed by reflux of contrast. CASE REPORT A 29-year-old unidentified male suffered blunt ...

This case reports a very unusual mechanism of cardiac rupture following an episode of multiple blunt chest trauma. The patient, a professional jockey, was trampled by horses, and although shocked on hospital admission, he did not present with signs and symptoms that were consistent with cardiogenic shock. This case highlights the difficult and subjective nature of clinical examination in emerge...

Abstract Aim Traumatic Cardiac Arrest (TCA) is a potentially fatal consequence of penetrating or blunt trauma. Emergency-Department Resuscitative Thoracotomy (ED-RT) the last resort procedure to restore cardiac output following TCA. This study reviews current UK guidelines Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) identify common indications for ED-RT and chest compressions Method Departmental policies were ...

The incidence of cardiac rupture following blunt trauma is rare, occurring in 0.3%-0.5% of all blunt trauma patients. It can be fatal at the trauma scene, and is frequently missed in the emergency room setting. The severity of a cardiac trauma is based on the mechanism and degree of the force applied. The objective of this study was to report the case of a 32-year-old male patient who was invol...

This report presents a case of severe blunt chest trauma secondary to a horse riding accident with resultant free-wall rupture of the left ventricle in association with severe lung contusion. We describe the initial surgical and medical management of the cardiac rupture which was associated with a massive haemoptysis due to severe lung trauma. Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support...

Since the advent of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), its application has been extended to massively injured patient. Cardiac injury following blunt chest trauma brings out high mortality and morbidity. In our cases, patients had high injury severity score by blunt trauma and presented sudden hemodynamic collapse in emergency room. We quickly detected cardiac tamponade by focused ass...

Lujan HL, DiCarlo SE. Cardiac electrophysiology and the susceptibility to sustained ventricular tachycardia in intact, conscious mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 306: H1213–H1221, 2014. First published February 21, 2014; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00780.2013.—Cardiac electrophysiological dysfunction is a major cause of death in humans. Accordingly, electrophysiological testing is routinely perfo...

Cardiac tamponade secondary to blunt cardiac injury is an extremely serious and life-threatening condition that the emergency physician is required to make definitive and appropriate management and resuscitation. Although blunt cardiac injury includes a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, cardiac tamponade due to blunt trauma is rarely seen because most of the patients with cardiac ruptur...