Chest Trauma Associated with Heart Dislodgement

Left Cardiac Luxation Caused by a Blunt Chest Trauma: A Difficult Diagnosis Confirmed on Chest Computed Tomography Scan—Two Case Reports

“…9 Finally, chest CT scan seems to be the most accurate radiologic test to confirm a suspected pericardial injury by showing a pneumopericardium that can be associated to an abnormal herniated heart. 2,10,11,15 Cardiac luxation may not be present immediately because artificial ventilation with a positive pression prevents the heart dislodgment. 2,13,17 In our two patients, we may hypothesize that the large vacuity of the left pleural space secondary to the worsened pneumothorax allowed the heart to herniate several hours after the trauma.…”