Mitralklappeninsuffizienz nach stumpfem Thoraxtrauma

Abstract

To get complete information on the initial cardiac status at the time of chest trauma, detailed echocardiographic evaluation is necessary independent of the severity or mechanism of trauma. If valve surgery is required, macroscopic valve description and microscopic diagnosis are important to clarify the etiology of valve dysfunction. This diagnostic evaluation allows to assess the causality between trauma and valve dysfunction in most of the cases.