Unsuspected Location of a Ventricular Septal Defect after Blunt Chest Trauma

Abstract

A 40-year-old woman, without previous cardiac symptoms, was referred to our hospital from a local hospital with a subpulmonary ventricular septal defect following blunt chest trauma. The patient was in cardiogenic shock and emergency repair was mandatory. Ventricular septal defect is uncommon after blunt chest trauma. It may develop either immediately or be delayed. Echocardiography is very important for rapid detection. Early repair is necessary and constitutes a lifesaving procedure when hemodynamic instability is present.

Stroke Complicating Traumatic Ventricular Septal Defect

“…They can result from penetrating injury or blunt chest trauma (2,3). To our knowledge, stroke resulting from traumatic VSD has not been previously reported.…”

Ventricular Septal Rupture After Blunt Chest Trauma in an Infant: A Case Report and Mini-Review

“…Traumatic VSDs present in 2-10% of BCT cases from motor vehicle accidents, and children are more prone to VSR due to the pliability of the immature chest wall (6,9,10). The increased intraventricular pressure after atrioventricular valve closure and the sudden elevation of pressure caused by the impact of BCT make the ventricular septum susceptible to rupture (10)(11)(12).…”

Blunt Chest Trauma Resulting in Both Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects

“…If the trauma occurs during late diastole or isovolumetric systole when the heart has maximum volume and the valves are closed, the compression can result in an increase in intracardiac pressure above the threshold of cardiac septal wall integrity and rupture can occur acutely . Apical muscular VSDs are most common, and occasionally valvular injury may occur . The ischemic dissolution type rupture occurs when the myocardium is damaged resulting in localized inflammation and ultimately necrosis and rupture.…”