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DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-38980
Isolated Coronary Artery Rupture after Blunt Chest Trauma
Publication History
Received November 7, 2002
Publication Date:
05 May 2003 (online)
Abstract
After blunt chest trauma, a patient with chronic coronary heart disease sustained an isolated rupture of the right coronary artery. All findings suggested a heart contusion complicated by a non-compromising pericardial effusion and aggravated by anticoagulation with phenprocoumon. After right-ventricular failure occurred, emergency coronary revascularization could not prevent a fatal outcome. This case emphasizes that a coronary artery lesion may be considered in those cases of thoracic trauma with preexisting coronary calcification.
Key words
Coronary artery rupture - chest trauma
References
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- 3 Tenzler M L. The spectrum of myocardial contusion: a review. J Trauma. 1985; 25 620-627
- 4 Pringle S D, Davidson K G. Myocardial infarction caused by coronary artery damage from blunt chest injury. Br Heart J. 1987; 57 375-376
- 5 Novelline R A, Rhea J T, Rao P M. et al . Helical CT in emergency radiology. Radiology. 1999; 213 321
Correspondence
Prof. Dr. G. Ziemer
Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Tübingen University Hospital
Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Phone: + 49-7071-2986638
Fax: + 49-7071-2984047
Email: gdziemer@med.uni-tuebingen.de