The deadliest blunt cardiac injury is blunt pericardial rupture.
A blunt pericardial rupture is rare but is associated with a high mortality rate.
The symptoms of a pericardial rupture include shock, arrhythmias, shortness of breath and “splash” murmurs secondary to the heart beating in a hemopneumopericardium.
The 2 most consistent findings on chest radiography are a shift of the pericardial silhouette to the right or the left and evidence of pneumopericardium.
Treatment of a pericardial rupture involves reduction of the heart into normal anatomic position with repair of the pericardium, either primarily or with a patch.
Common causes of injury to the heart and causes of a pericardial rupture include MVA, pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, or falls from significant heights.
The most commonly injured cardiac chamber is the right ventricle (RV), followed by the right atrium (RA), left ventricle (LV), and left atrium (LA).
People with blunt pericardial rupture or pericarditis may feel sharp or stabbing (however some people have dull, pressure-like chest-pain) be felt on the left-hand side of the chest or behind your breastbone.
The pain may spread to your shoulder and arms or get worse when coughing, swallowing, lying down (especially on your left side) or taking a deep breath.