PMID: 490696Oct 1, 1979Paper

Reversible heart block following nonpenetrating chest trauma

The Journal of Trauma
J A BrennanA J Liedtke

Abstract

Blunt chest trauma, if sustained selectively to the midchest or precordium, can result in a variety of cardiac injuries (3, 7). These lesions may involve separately or together all structures of the heart, including pericardium, myocardium, valves, and coronary arteries. Depending on the extent of trauma, such injuries can cause varying amounts of mechanical or electrical dysfunction. The incidence and nature of cardiac dysrhythmias following trauma are largely unknown clinically, but have been extensively documented in several animal studies (2, 4, 5). Disturbances in both impulse generation and transmission were noted, usually beginning immediately after impact with the development of complete heart block and progressing quickly through several other electrical patterns to either sinus rhythm or ventricular fibrillation. High-grade atrioventricular (A-V) block has rarely been recognized clinically in association with nonpenetrating heart trauma (1), perhaps because of its rapid replacement by other dysrhythmias. It was, therefore, of interest when a patient presented to this institution in third-degree heart block following a blunt chest injury. Specifics of her illness are discussed.

Citations

Jan 13, 2010·The Journal of Trauma·Yaniv Bar-Cohen, Michael J Silka
Jun 3, 1999·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·R M Benitez, M R Gold
Sep 1, 1995·The Journal of Small Animal Practice·P K Nicholls, P J Watson
Jun 1, 2010·European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery : Official Publication of the European Trauma Society·Rovshan M Ismailov
Mar 1, 2008·Journal of Chiropractic Medicine·Jonathan C Williams, William C Elkington
Dec 7, 2013·Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care·Suzanne M CunninghamJohn E Rush
Jan 1, 1987·The Journal of Emergency Medicine·S Sornsin
Oct 22, 2015·Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives·Mohamed MorsySunil K Jha
Aug 13, 2008·Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine·Miriam BortnikPaolo Marino

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