Unsuspected location of a ventricular septal defect after blunt chest trauma

OpenAlex English

All articles of this category Introduction Traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) is uncommon after blunt chest trauma and is usually the result of high-speed motor vehicle accidents; cardiac injuries occur in 20 % of such accidents [[ 1 ]]. Severe cardiac injuries are mostly fatal before the patients arrive at the hospital. A ventricular septal defect following a blunt injury is found in 2 - 10 % of survivors [[ 2 ]]. In those who survive, the defect is often unsuspected or overlooked. When ventricular septal injury does occur after blunt trauma, rupture occurs almost exclusively in the muscular portion of the septum, either immediately or after a delay [[ 3 ]]. Occasionally, hemodynamically unstable patients require prompt diagnosis and early surgical intervention [[ 4 ]].