REBEL Core Cast 10.0 – Blunt Cardiac Injury

Take Home Points on Blunt Cardiac Injury

• No single test can be used to exclude BCI. However a thorough physical exam combined with a 12-lead EKG, troponin measurement, and echocardiography can be used to characterize BCI and direct care
• Obtain a 12-lead EKG in all thoracic trauma patients 
• A chest x-ray may help to identify associated injuries. However, isolated musculoskeletal injuries such as sternal fractures do not correlate with a risk of BCI
• Bedside TTE can quickly evaluate for life-threats such as cardiac tamponade; A TEE is both sensitive and specific across the spectrum of BCI pathology and is part of a comprehensive evaluation
• BCI can be excluded in a patient without EKG abnormalities and a negative troponin I

REBEL Core Cast 10.0 – Blunt Cardiac Injury

Definition

• Any blunt trauma to the heart. Ranges from contusion to dysrhythmia to ventricular wall rupture.

Anatomy

• Right ventricle and right atrium most commonly injured (most anterior portion of heart)
• Suspect this pathology with any significant thoracic trauma ( mvc / crush injury / deceleration injury / blast injuries)

Signs of Injury

• Dysrhythmia / ecchymosis / hypotension / chest wall deformity / pulse deficit / new heart failure / new murmur
• Pediatric patients may not present with outward signs of cardiac injury. Think of it with significant chest wall trauma.
• Treatment
• Stabilize: A-B-C-D-E
• E-FAST after primary survey – rule out life threatening injuries
• If tachycardia after initial resuscitation + elimination of other injuries – consider cardiac injury
• Testing for blunt cardiac injury in the not obvious group
• ECG will most commonly find tachycardia. Make sure to look for dysrhythmias.
• CXR / CT Chest – if finding of multiple rib fractures or sternal fracture then raise your suspicion for cardiac injury. Get an echo!
• Echo may show wall motion abnormality / abnormal flow / turbulent flow / intraventricular clots
• Get a troponin, they have 100% negative predictive value. Good to rule out disease. May need two trops.

Eastern Association for the Surgery Trauma – 2012 guideline.

Level 1 Recommendation

• ECG for all patients suspected of blunt cardiac injury

Level 2 Recommendation 

• ECG with new dysrhythmia means admission for cardiac monitoring.
• Normal ECG and negative troponin, BCI ruled out.
• Hemodynamically unstable patient or persistent new arrhythmia then need Echo
• Sternal fracture alone does not predict BCI

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