Citation

Sharma A. J. Ind. Acad. Forensic Med. 2010; 32(2): 165-167.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Cardiac injury occasionally occurs as a result of blunt chest trauma. Most cardiac complications in chest trauma are due to myocardial contusion rather than direct damage to the coronary arteries. Coronary artery injury rarely occurs after blunt chest trauma, but it can lead to extensive myocardial infarction and be frequently overlooked. However, traumatic coronary injury has been reported, and a variety of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed. For young adults, blunt chest trauma is one of the non-atherosclerotic mechanisms leading to acute myocardial infarction. Not only a severe trauma, but also a mild trauma such as sports trauma can cause acute myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction after blunt chest trauma, however, is an extremely rare entity with most cases received conservative therapy. Here two cases of acute myocardial infarction due to blunt thoracic trauma are described in patients who were previously healthy and had no symptoms suggestive of coronary artery disease.

Key Words: Blunt Thoracic Trauma; Traumatic Coronary Injury; Acute Myocardial Infarction