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Ulusal Travma Ve Acil Cerrahi Dergisi =... May 2022The objective of the study is to investigate diagnostic and clinical processes performed for cardiac contusion in patients with blunt thoracic trauma.
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study is to investigate diagnostic and clinical processes performed for cardiac contusion in patients with blunt thoracic trauma.
METHODS
This study was conducted retrospectively on 65 patients admitted with isolated blunt thoracic trauma to the Emergency Medicine Department. The CT images, the cardiac enzyme levels, the periodic 4-h follow-up electrocardiography (ECGs) in the emer-gency department, and the results of echocardiography, performed at admission and when required according to the clinical status, were investigated. The 1-h and 4-h high-sensitivity troponin I levels were studied, and values above 0.04 ng/ml were considered as positive.
RESULTS
Sixty-five patients with isolated thoracic trauma were included in the study, 23 (35.38%) had pulmonary and cardiac contu-sions both. In 23 (35.38%) patients, pulmonary contusion had been present, and cardiac contusion had not been identified at the initial evaluation. However, during clinical follow-up, troponin became positive, dysrhythmia developed, and the trauma affected the heart in four of these patients. In six (9.24%) patients, cardiac contusion was identified without pulmonary contusion. In 13 (20%) patients, no cardiac or pulmonary contusion was identified. troponin elevation was detected in 10 patients without a diagnosis of cardiac contusion who had a pulmonary contusion, hemothorax, and/or pneumothorax at the time of hospital admission and then with normal troponin levels at 4-h control. We found that there was a statistical agreement between cardiac contusion and troponin-ECG results at 4th h.
CONCLUSION
We advise that all blunt thoracic trauma patients should be screened for cardiac contusion by continuous ECG monitoring and troponin levels.
Topics: Attention; Contusions; Humans; Lung Injury; Myocardial Contusions; Retrospective Studies; Thoracic Injuries; Troponin I; Wounds, Nonpenetrating
PubMed: 35485460
DOI: 10.14744/tjtes.2021.11290 -
World Journal of Emergency Surgery :... May 2023The diagnosis of cardiac contusion, caused by blunt chest trauma, remains a challenge due to the non-specific symptoms it causes and the lack of ideal tests to diagnose... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
The diagnosis of cardiac contusion, caused by blunt chest trauma, remains a challenge due to the non-specific symptoms it causes and the lack of ideal tests to diagnose myocardial damage. A cardiac contusion can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Several diagnostic tests have been used to evaluate the risk of cardiac complications, but the challenge of identifying patients with contusions nevertheless remains.
AIM OF THE STUDY
To evaluate the accuracy of diagnostic tests for detecting blunt cardiac injury (BCI) and its complications, in patients with severe chest injuries, who are assessed in an emergency department or by any front-line emergency physician.
METHODS
A targeted search strategy was performed using Ovid MEDLINE and Embase databases from 1993 up to October 2022. Data on at least one of the following diagnostic tests: electrocardiogram (ECG), serum creatinine phosphokinase-MB level (CPK-MB), echocardiography (Echo), Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) or Cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Diagnostic tests for cardiac contusion were evaluated for their accuracy in meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I and the QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess bias of the studies.
RESULTS
This systematic review yielded 51 studies (n = 5,359). The weighted mean incidence of myocardial injuries after sustaining a blunt force trauma stood at 18.3% of cases. Overall weighted mean mortality among patients with blunt cardiac injury was 7.6% (1.4-36.4%). Initial ECG, cTnI, cTnT and transthoracic echocardiography TTE all showed high specificity (> 80%), but lower sensitivity (< 70%). TEE had a specificity of 72.1% (range 35.8-98.2%) and sensitivity of 86.7% (range 40-99.2%) in diagnosing cardiac contusion. CK-MB had the lowest diagnostic odds ratio of 3.598 (95% CI: 1.832-7.068). Normal ECG accompanied by normal cTnI showed a high sensitivity of 85% in ruling out cardiac injuries.
CONCLUSION
Emergency physicians face great challenges in diagnosing cardiac injuries in patients following blunt trauma. In the majority of cases, joint use of ECG and cTnI was a pragmatic and cost-effective approach to rule out cardiac injuries. In addition, TEE may be highly accurate in identifying cardiac injuries in suspected cases.
Topics: Humans; Thoracic Injuries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Heart Injuries; Myocardial Contusions; Troponin I; Troponin T; Diagnostic Tests, Routine
PubMed: 37245048
DOI: 10.1186/s13017-023-00504-9 -
Cureus Dec 2022Lightning strikes are frequently encountered and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It could impair several organs, but the effects of electric current on...
Lightning strikes are frequently encountered and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. It could impair several organs, but the effects of electric current on the cardiovascular system contribute to the primary cause of cardiorespiratory arrest. These effects can be either transient or persistent, ranging from benign or life-threatening arrhythmias, ischemic injury, myocardial contusion, aortic injury, cardiomyopathy, and ventricular failure. Myocarditis has been an important but not very well-understood cause of cardiac dysfunction. Fulminant myocarditis is defined as patients presenting with severe heart failure, having a duration of <2 weeks of symptoms, and requiring inotropic or mechanical circulatory support. This condition can rapidly lead to hemodynamic instability and death. Resuscitation for a longer time increases the probability of favorable outcomes in young and previously healthy patients. This case report accounts for a case of a healthy young male who was struck by lightning while working on the farm and developed electrocardiographic changes along with positive cardiac biomarkers.
PubMed: 36644050
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32443 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Feb 2023Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) encompasses a spectrum of pathologies ranging from clinically silent, transient arrhythmias to deadly cardiac wall rupture. Of diagnosed BCIs,... (Review)
Review
Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) encompasses a spectrum of pathologies ranging from clinically silent, transient arrhythmias to deadly cardiac wall rupture. Of diagnosed BCIs, cardiac contusion is most common. Suggestive symptoms may be unrelated to BCI, while some injuries may be clinically asymptomatic. Cardiac rupture is the most devastating complication of BCI. Most patients who sustain rupture of a heart chamber do not reach the emergency department alive. The incidence of BCI following blunt thoracic trauma remains variable and no gold standard exists to either diagnose cardiac injury or provide management. Diagnostic tests should be limited to identifying those patients who are at risk of developing cardiac complications as a result of cardiac in jury. Therapeutic interventions should be directed to treat the complications of cardiac injury. Prompt, appropriate and well-orchestrated surgical treatment is invaluable in the management of the unstable patients.
Topics: Humans; Heart Injuries; Heart; Myocardial Contusions; Heart Rupture; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Rupture; Thoracic Injuries
PubMed: 36765392
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-023-02146-z -
BMJ Case Reports Jan 2024Myocardial contusion should be suspected in a selected patient group with blunt thoracic trauma, who have elevated troponin, ECG changes and/or haemodynamical...
Myocardial contusion should be suspected in a selected patient group with blunt thoracic trauma, who have elevated troponin, ECG changes and/or haemodynamical instability. Echocardiography is useful for direct visualisation of possible complications. In stable conditions, MRI allows for good visualisation of the heart and can confirm a suspected myocardial contusion as well as demonstrate the extent of myocardial damage. Based on the present literature, the authors developed a diagram for the diagnostic approach of a patient with suspected myocardial contusion.
Topics: Humans; Heart Injuries; Myocardial Contusions; Troponin; Echocardiography; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Thoracic Injuries; Contusions; Electrocardiography
PubMed: 38272515
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257082 -
Journal of the American College of... Mar 2023Causes and precipitating factors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in adolescents are poorly understood.
BACKGROUND
Causes and precipitating factors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in adolescents are poorly understood.
OBJECTIVES
The authors sought to investigate the etiologies of SCD and their association with physical activity in a large cohort of adolescents.
METHODS
Between 1994 and June 2022, 7,675 cases of SCD were consecutively referred to our national cardiac pathology center; 756 (10%) were adolescents. All cases underwent detailed autopsy evaluation by expert cardiac pathologists. Clinical information was obtained from referring coroners.
RESULTS
A structurally normal heart, indicative of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome was the most common autopsy finding (n = 474; 63%). Myocardial diseases were detected in 163 cases (22%), including arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (n = 36; 5%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 31; 4%), idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 31; 4%), and myocarditis (n = 30; 4%). Coronary artery anomalies were identified in 17 cases (2%). Decedents were competitive athletes in 128 cases (17%), and 159 decedents (21%) died during exercise. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in 8% of athletes compared with 4% of nonathletes (P = 0.05); coronary artery anomalies were significantly more common in athletes (9% vs 1%; P < 0.001), as well as commotio cordis (5% compared with 1% in nonathletes; P = 0.001). The 3 main comorbidities were asthma (n = 58; 8%), epilepsy (n = 44; 6%), and obesity (n = 40; 5%).
CONCLUSIONS
Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome and myocardial diseases are the most common conditions diagnosed at autopsy in adolescent victims of SCD. Among causes of SCD, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery anomalies, and commotio cordis are more common in young athletes than in similar age sedentary individuals.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Commotio Cordis; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Athletes; Cardiomyopathies; United Kingdom; Coronary Artery Disease
PubMed: 36922085
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.01.041 -
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Aug 2023Since the nationally televised cardiac arrest of American National Football League player Damar Hamlin in January 2023, commotio cordis has come to the forefront of... (Review)
Review
Since the nationally televised cardiac arrest of American National Football League player Damar Hamlin in January 2023, commotio cordis has come to the forefront of public attention. Commotio cordis is defined as sudden cardiac arrest due to direct trauma to the precordium resulting in ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. While the precise incidence of commotio cordis is not known due to a lack of standardized, mandated reporting, it is the third most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, with more than 75% of cases occurring during organized and recreational sporting events. Given that survival is closely tied to how quickly victims receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation, it is crucial to raise awareness of commotio cordis so that athletic trainers, coaches, team physicians, and emergency medical personnel can rapidly diagnose and treat this often-fatal condition. Broader distribution of automated external defibrillators in sporting facilities as well as increased presence of medical personnel during sporting events would also likely lead to higher survival rates.
Topics: Humans; Commotio Cordis; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Football
PubMed: 37382827
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01873-6 -
European Journal of Trauma and... Aug 2021Myocardial contusion can be a life-threatening condition in patients who sustained blunt thoracic trauma. The diagnostic approach remains a subject of debate. The aim of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Myocardial contusion can be a life-threatening condition in patients who sustained blunt thoracic trauma. The diagnostic approach remains a subject of debate. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of echocardiography, electrocardiography, troponins T and I (TnT and TnI), and creatine kinase muscle/brain (CK-MB) for identifying patients with a myocardial contusion following blunt thoracic trauma.
METHODS
Sensitivity and specificity were first determined in a 10-year retrospective cohort study and second by a systematic literature review with meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Of the 117 patients in the retrospective study, 44 (38%) were considered positive for myocardial contusion. Chest X-ray, chest CT scan, electrocardiograph, and echocardiography had poor sensitivity (< 15%) but good specificity (≥ 90%). Sensitivity to cardiac biomarkers measured at presentation ranged from 59% for TnT to 77% for hs-TnT, specificity ranged from 63% for CK-MB to 100% for TnT. The systematic literature review yielded 28 studies, with 14.5% out of 7242 patients reported as positive for myocardial contusion. The pooled sensitivity of electrocardiography, troponin I, and CK-MB was between 62 and 71%, versus only 45% for echocardiography and 38% for troponin T. The pooled specificity ranged from 63% for CK-MB to 85% for troponin T and 88% for echocardiography.
CONCLUSION
The best diagnostic approach for myocardial contusion is a combination of electrocardiography and measurement of cardiac biomarkers. If abnormalities are found, telemonitoring is necessary for the early detection of life-threatening arrhythmias. Chest X-ray and CT scan may show other thoracic injuries but provide no information on myocardial contusion.
Topics: Biomarkers; Electrocardiography; Humans; Myocardial Contusions; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Thoracic Injuries; Troponin T
PubMed: 31982920
DOI: 10.1007/s00068-020-01305-4 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Mar 2022Traumatic asphyxia (TA) is a rarely reported disease characterized as thoraco-cervico-facial petechiae, facial edema and cyanosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage and...
BACKGROUND
Traumatic asphyxia (TA) is a rarely reported disease characterized as thoraco-cervico-facial petechiae, facial edema and cyanosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage and neurological symptoms. This study aimed to report 51 children of TA at the pediatric medical center of west China.
METHODS
Scanned medical reports were reviewed and specific variables as age, sex, cause of injury, clinical manifestations and associated injuries were analyzed using SPSS 25.0.
RESULTS
The average age of patients was 5.3 ± 2.9 (1.3-13.2) year-old. Thirty (58.8%) were boys and 21 (41.2%) were girls. Most TAs occurred during vehicle accident, object compression and stampede. All patients showed facial petechiae (100.0%, CI 93.0-100.0%), 25 (49.0%, CI 34.8-63.2%) out of 51 presented with facial edema, 29 (56.9%, CI 42.8-70.9%) presented with subconjunctival hemorrhage, including bilateral 27 and unilateral 2. Six patients had facial cyanosis (11.8%, CI 2.6-20.9%). Other symptoms were also presented as epileptic seizure, vomiting, incontinence, paraplegia, etc. The most frequent companion injury was pulmonary contusion (76.5%, CI 64.4-88.5%). Other companion injuries included mediastinal emphysema, fracture, cerebral contusion and hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, abdominal organ contusion, mastoid hemorrhage, hematocele of paranasal sinuses, spinal cord injury, hepatic insufficiency, myocardial injury and retinal hemorrhage and edema. Treatment was mainly supportive. No death occurred in our study. The prognosis is rather good if without damage of central nervous system.
CONCLUSION
TA could bring out multiple symptoms, among which retinal hemorrhage and edema, spinal cord injury and viscera impairment have been less observed. Comprehensive physical and auxiliary examination should be performed considering TA. Its prognosis is rather good with focus on life-threatening complications.
Topics: Adolescent; Asphyxia; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Infant; Male; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Cord Injuries
PubMed: 35282839
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-022-01773-2 -
Annals of Medicine Dec 2024To determine the incidence rates (IRs) of catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence rates (IRs) of catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse athletes.
METHODS
Catastrophic injuries and exertional medical events in lacrosse in the US among youth or amateur, high school and college athletes were analysed from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research (NCCSIR) database from 1982/83 to 2019/20. Frequencies, IRs per 100,000 athlete-seasons (AS) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were calculated. Participation data were gathered from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and USA Lacrosse.
RESULTS
Sixty-nine catastrophic events (16 youth or amateur, 36 high school and 17 college; 84% male) occurred in US lacrosse from 7/1/1982 to 6/30/2020. Thirty-six percent of all incidents were fatal. The overall IR was 0.5 per 100,000 AS (95% CI: 0.4-0.7). There were 15 cases of non-traumatic sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) and 15 incidents of commotio cordis. Fatality rates from SCA and commotio cordis decreased 95% (IRR = 0.05; 95% CI: 0, 0.2) from 1982/83-2006/07 to 2007/08-2019/20. Incidence rates were higher for collegiate versus high school 1982/83-2019/20 (IRR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.7) and collegiate versus youth 2005/06-2019/20 (IRR = 8.0; 95% CI: 3.0, 21.4) level. Contact with a stick or ball (41%) and contact with another player (20%) were the primary mechanisms of injury.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of catastrophic events during lacrosse was higher among collegiate than high school or youth athletes. SCA from an underlying cardiac condition or from commotio cordis was the most common catastrophic event. Fatality rates from catastrophic injuries have declined significantly over the study period, perhaps driven by protective measures adopted by lacrosse governing bodies.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adolescent; United States; Female; Athletic Injuries; Commotio Cordis; Schools; Racquet Sports; Athletes; Incidence
PubMed: 38335556
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2311223