Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2000;17:752-753
© 2000 Elsevier Science NL
Images in cardio-thoracic surgery |
Herniation of the heart due to traumatic rupture of the pericardium
Takehiko Furusawaa,
Yukio Fukayaa,
Jun Amanob
a Cardiovascular Surgery, Suwa Central Hospital, Chino, Nagano, Japan
b Department of Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1, Asahi, Matumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-263-37-2657; fax: +81-263-37-2721
e-mail: furusawa{at}janis.or.jp
1. Case description
A 72-year-old man was injured in a traffic accident. An X-ray and a computed tomography of the chest revealed bilateral rib fractures, contusion of the lung, bilateral haemothorax and pneumothorax, mediastinal pneumatosis, pneumopericardium, and the unusual dislocation of the heart to the left. (Figs. 1 and 2). Fourteen hours after the injury exploratory surgery was performed. The ventricular mass protruded into the left paravertebral gutter through the tear in the pericardium. The pericardium was repaired using prosthetic film.
View larger version (167K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 1. X-ray image of the chest showing extensive bilateral rib fractures, bilateral pneumothorax, and pneumopericardium, and dislocation of the heart to the left.
|
|
View larger version (91K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Fig. 2. Computed tomographic scan of the chest showing contusion of the lung, bilateral haemothorax and pneumothorax, mediastinum pneumatosis and pneumopericardium, and dislocation of the heart to the left paravertebral gutter.
|
|
Received November 1, 1999;
received in revised form March 9, 2000;
accepted March 13, 2000.
