The double jeopardy of blunt chest trauma: a case report and review

Cardiac injury, specifically valvular rupture, must be considered after blunt chest trauma even in previously healthy patients. Isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) due to blunt chest trauma are rare phenomena. More unique is simultaneous complete papillary muscle rupture of the mitral valve (MV) and tricuspid valve (TV) with only four patients being previously reported in the literature. This case describes a patient with complete transection of the posteromedial papillary muscle of the MV with severe MR and a concomitant flail TV with severe TR following a motor vehicular accident. The importance of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the early evaluation of patients following blunt chest trauma is also highlighted by this case.     

Post-traumatic blunt mitral insufficiency: surgical experience and review

Three cases of acute mitral insufficiency after blunt chest trauma are presented. All three patients underwent urgent surgery for mitral valve replacement (MVR). The first patient presented complete detachment of the anterior papillary muscle, while the other two showed rupture of the posterior papillary muscle. The second patient also suffered rupture of the anterior papillary muscle of the tricuspid valve, and subsequently underwent double mitral-tricuspid valve replacement. All patients survived the operation and were discharged in good condition. An extensive review of the literature on surgically managed patients is included. In this group of high-risk patients, MVR represents a rapid and safe operation, and represents a good surgical option.     

Sudden Onset of Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Caused by Traumatic Tricuspid Regurgitation With Ruptured Chordae Tendineae After Blunt Chest Trauma

An 86-year-old man was admitted our hospital because of sudden onset of dyspnea after blunt chest trauma. Because his oxygen saturation deteriorated from 92% in the supine position to 86% in the sitting position, platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome was suspected. Transesophageal echocardiography showed severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by anterior papillary muscle rupture. Furthermore, right-to-left shunt with TR through a patent foramen ovale (PFO) was observed. The diagnosis was therefore platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome with right-to-left shunt through PFO with shunting exacerbated by acute severe TR after blunt chest trauma. The patient underwent urgent tricuspid valve repair and PFO closure and has remained asymptomatic postoperatively.     

Combined tricuspid valvuloplasty and superior cavopulmonary anastomosis for repair of traumatictricuspid valve injury

Chronic tricuspid valve insufficiency secondary to blunt chest trauma is rare in the pediatric population, with fewer than 10 cases reported. Surgical repair has focused on the tricuspid valve. We present 2 cases of traumatic tricuspid valve insufficiency in pediatric patients after blunt chest trauma in whom tricuspid valve repair was performed along with superior cavopulmonary anastomosis. To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of the use of this combination of surgical procedures for repair of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation in either adults or children.     

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency

Isolated tricuspid valve regurgitation is a rare finding after nonpenetrating chest trauma. The clinical course is usually benign and the time of surgery can be delayed for many years. Two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography is an essential procedure in the diagnosis of chordae tendineae or papillary muscle traumatic injury. We present two cases of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation with mild symptoms undiagnosed for sixteen and forty-three years, respectively.     

Acute repair of traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation aided by three-dimensional echocardiography

A 54 year-old man without prior cardiac history was involved in a motor vehicle accident. His heart rate was 100/min and blood pressure 128/78 mmHg. He complained of anterior chest pain, and on examination had a loud pan-systolic murmur with no clinical signs of heart failure. Three-dimensional trans-oesophageal echocardiography (3D-TOE) demonstrated partial rupture of the inferior head of the anterior papillary muscle (when 2D-TOE did not), causing severe tricuspid regurgitation. This was successfully repaired. Tricuspid valve insufficiency is a rare, but well documented, complication of blunt chest trauma. The majority of cases of tricuspid regurgitation caused by blunt trauma are diagnosed and treated late after the traumatic event. Acute diagnosis is less common but possible with a high level of vigilance, and is greatly aided by clinical indicators of cardiac injury. We describe a case of acute repair of traumatic tricuspid insufficiency, in which diagnosis and surgical planning were greatly aided by 3D-TOE.     

外伤性三尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的:探讨外伤性三尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗方法及其手术效果.方法:回顾分析2000年1月～2003年9月收治的10例外伤性三尖瓣关闭不全外科手术治疗的临床病例.10例中,车祸6例,胸部钝器伤3例,刺伤1例.其中三尖瓣前叶撕裂1例,前乳头肌撕脱3例,腱索断裂6例.结果:所有病例均行三尖瓣成形术.无手术死亡.出院前超声心动图检查显示三尖瓣血流正常2例,微量反流7例,少量反流1例.术后随访8例,随访时间8～36个月,超声心动图检查显示三尖瓣血流正常1例,微量反流6例,少量反流1例.结论:外伤性三尖瓣关闭不全,应当尽早明确诊断,尽早治疗.综合性三尖瓣成形术,多能获得满意的治疗效果.     

Rupture of the papillary muscle of the triscupid valve : A complication of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a rare cause of tricuspid insufficiency

Rupture of a papillary muscle is a rare occurrence. Two patients are described in whom rupture of a papillary muscle of the tricuspid valve developed after external cardiac massage during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. One of these patients survived briefly with clinical evidence of triscupid regurgitation immediately after resuscitation. Although tricuspid valve papillary muscle rupture has been described as a complication of bacterial endocarditis, chest trauma and myocardial infarction, it is a generally unrecognized complication of external cardiac massage. Findings in the two patients reported here suggest that patients with a dilated right ventricle may be more susceptible to this rare complication of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Traumatic tricuspid valve insufficiency: case report

A 30-year old man underwent a head-on motor accident and was admitted to hospital, where he was successfully treated for several injuries. He was discharged home with slight tricuspid regurgitation, without signs of hemodynamic decompensation, and required no further treatment. Five years later he was admitted to the National Institute of Cardiology due to overt right ventricular failure secondary to tricuspid valve regurgitation. After several unsuccessful attempts at papillary muscle and chordal repair, a 33-mm SJM Biocor valve was implanted. This case history underlines the value of echocardiography, even after blunt chest trauma without cardiac symptoms. A good functional result can be achieved years after onset of traumatic valve insufficiency, but early diagnosis and surgical treatment increases the feasibility of tricuspid valve repair rather than replacement, and also prevents progressive deterioration of right ventricular function.     

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency--a case report

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency following blunt chest trauma, although an uncommon entity, has been reported more frequently over the past 2 decades. Increased physician awareness of the possibility of myocardial trauma accompanied by proper clinical evaluation and follow-up are the keys to a successful outcome regardless of whether a medical or surgical approach to treatment is initially selected. Early surgical correction has become the preferred treatment in most instances and may be influenced by clinical status and other associated comorbid conditions. A patient with a combination of myocardial contusion, valve laceration, and papillary muscle rupture is presented.     

Traumatic tricuspid papillary muscle and chordae rupture: emerging role of three-dimensional echocardiography

We describe a patient with blunt traumatic chest injury in whom three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) confirmed the findings of a flail anterior tricuspid valve leaflet and ruptured anterior papillary muscle seen on two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, and in addition identified multiple chordae tendinae rupture of the posterior leaflet. Open heart surgery confirmed the findings. The emerging role of 3DTTE in defining the true extent of traumatic tricuspid valvular injury is highlighted .     

Tricuspid regurgitation due to chest trauma: An unusual laceration around the annulus of the anterior leaflet

Summary A 70-year-old male with tricuspid regurgitation due to a blunt chest trauma inflicted 16 years previously underwent prosthetic valve replacement. At surgery, a tear, which produced tricuspid regurgitation, was found around the annulus of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Since this area has not been reported as a location for heart trauma-producing tricuspid regurgitation, a possible mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation is discussed in this patient.     

Tricuspid regurgitation following inferior myocardial infarction.

Tricuspid regurgitation developed in two patients after inferior wall myocardial infarction. Neither patient had preexisting valvular heart disease or evidence of endocarditis, and neither had suffered chest trauma. Because abnormalities in right ventricular function may occur after inferior infarction, and because other known causes of tricuspid incompetence were not present, we postulate that these patients developed valvular regurgitation from dysfunction of the papillary muscle complex controlling tricuspid valve function, a mechanism similar to that proposed to explain mitral regurgitation seen with inferior wall ischemia.     

Spontaneous chordae rupture of tricuspid valve in patient with chronic renal failure.

Spontaneous chordae rupture of the tricuspid valve is relatively rare, unlike the mitral valve. We present a 27-year-old male with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis therapy for treatment of parathyroid adenoma. The echocardiography showed the severe tricuspid regurgitation with chordae rupture which was not noted 1 year ago. In addition, the papillary muscle of both mitral and tricuspid valve was shortened and calcified extensively. However, in his clinical history, the specific causes for chordae rupture, such as chest trauma or endocarditis, were not disclosed. It was presumed that dilated right ventricle with volume or pressure overloading and secondary hyperparathyroidism are probably responsible for the chordae rupture of tricuspid valve.     

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation: case report

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare disease owing to penetrating or nonpenetrating thoracic trauma. In the last 40 years, since motorism is increasing, this disease can be seen more frequently. In most cases, rupture of chordae tendinae on the tricuspid valve, damage of the front papillary muscle and rupture of the tricuspid valve leaflets. On an acute stage, the damage of the valve can remain undiagnosed. Later on, the patient might have no symptoms; however, symtoms of right heart failure indicating an operation appear. This case-study is concerned with a patient with traumatic tricuspid regurgitation.     

Spontaneous rupture of the papillary muscle with angiographically normal coronary vessels

Papillary muscle rupture is an unusual pathology, commonly being a mechanical complication of an acute myocardial infarction or a blunt chest trauma. In this case report we describe a patient with a spontaneous complete posteromedial papillary muscle rupture, secondary to an isolated papillary muscle infarction, in the absence of coronary artery disease, resulting in severe mitral regurgitation, cardiogenic shock and uneventful urgent mitral valve replacement. The clinical and histopathologic literature, and mechanisms to explain this kind of rupture, are reviewed.     

Acute mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma

We treated a case of isolated acute mitral incompetence due to complete transection of the anterior papillary muscle produced by blunt chest trauma. The excellent results obtained with conservative therapy suggest that this approach be used in other similar cases. The pertinent medical literature is reviewed.     

Traumatic aortic and mitral valve injury following blunt chest injury with a variable clinical course

Blunt trauma is uncommonly followed by intracardiac valvar injuries. The resulting valvar insufficiency rapidly or progressively leads to congestive heart failure or death unless surgically corrected. Three patients with sustained blunt chest trauma were found to have two aortic valve and one mitral valve ruptures. They had variable clinical courses. However, after the diagnosis was established, surgical intervention was attempted promptly, which consisted of two aortic valve replacements and one mitral valvoplasty. Their postoperative courses were uneventful. Careful observation and repeated physical examination, aided by echocardiography, were required after the blunt chest trauma.     

Chronic tricuspid regurgitation and bifascicular block due to blunt chest trauma

Closed-chest trauma in a young man was followed by rupture of a right ventricular papillary muscle and bifascicular block. This produced signs and symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation and recurrent syncope. Treatment by valve replacement and pacemaker implantation was successful. Review of 30 cases of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation reveals that this patient had characteristic findings: adult onset of isolated tricuspid regurgitation, a history of trauma, right bundle branch block, and cardiomegaly without signs of left ventricular failure. In addition, right atrial hypertension of longstanding may produce cyanosis because of right-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale.     

Isolated tricuspid insufficiency of traumatic type. Report of a case and revision of the literature (author's transl)]

A case of isolated tricuspid insufficiency is reported. The lesion, that at surgery resulted to be an anterior valve leaflet detachment, was well tolerated for a long time. After 23 years from the trauma the patient was successfully treated by surgical correction. The clinical features, compared to the 33 cases reported in the literature, demonstrated that the clinical course was more dramatic in patients with papillary muscle rupture than in those where the lesion was located on the chordae tendineae and/or the valves. The physical findings are characteristic but not specific of the traumatic type of tricuspidal insufficiency. However, when these symptoms are found in a patient where a trauma has previously occurred, the correct diagnosis should consider this possibility. The ECG usually shows incomplete bundle branch block, and the chest roentgenogram reveals cardiomegaly. Furthermore, the blood pressure levels in the right chambers are nearly normal. Surgery is often indicated and seems to give very good results. Our patient markedly improved after surgical treatment. Electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic evidence of right atrial and ventricular hypertrophy was reduced as well as the roentgenographic pattern.