Cardiac contusion

Cardiac Contusion

A cardiac contusion is a medical condition characterized by a bruise of the heart muscle, often resulting from blunt trauma to the chest. This condition can occur in various scenarios, such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries. The severity of a cardiac contusion can range from minor bruising to significant damage that affects cardiac function.

Pathophysiology

Cardiac contusions occur when a forceful impact to the chest compresses the heart against the spine or sternum. This can lead to damage to the myocardial tissue, which may result in inflammation, hemorrhage, or necrosis. The right ventricle is most commonly affected due to its anterior position in the chest.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with a cardiac contusion may present with a variety of symptoms, including:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Hypotension
• Arrhythmias

The symptoms can vary depending on the extent of the injury and the presence of any associated injuries.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a cardiac contusion can be challenging, as the symptoms may overlap with other conditions. The following diagnostic tools are commonly used:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) - to detect arrhythmias or other electrical abnormalities.
• Echocardiography - to assess cardiac function and detect wall motion abnormalities.
• Cardiac biomarkers - such as troponin, which may be elevated in cases of myocardial injury.
• Chest X-ray - to rule out other thoracic injuries.

Management

The management of cardiac contusions depends on the severity of the injury. Mild cases may require only observation and supportive care, while more severe cases may necessitate interventions such as:

• Monitoring in a cardiac care unit
• Administration of antiarrhythmic medications
• Treatment of associated injuries, such as rib fractures or pneumothorax

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with cardiac contusions varies. Many patients with mild contusions recover fully with appropriate management. However, severe contusions can lead to complications such as heart failure or persistent arrhythmias, which may require long-term treatment.

Also see

• Myocardial infarction
• Blunt cardiac injury
• Traumatic cardiac arrest
• Pericardial effusion

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
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B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
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• Cardiac amyloidosis
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D

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E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
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H

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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
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• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

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N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

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P

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R

• Right axis deviation
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S

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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
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W

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