Citation

Antoniades L, Petrou PM, Eftychiou C, Nicolaides E. Hellenic journal of cardiology: HJC = Hellenike kardiologike epitheorese 2011; 52(1): 71-74.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21292609

Abstract

Penetrating heart injuries can be lethal. Here we report a case of self-inflicted cardiac injury with glass fragments by a psychiatric patient. The patient presented with cardiogenic shock and was initially treated surgically for a large pneumothorax and cardiac tamponade. A few days later she presented with dyspnoea and hypotension. An echo-Doppler study was performed and an acquired post-traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) with left-to-right shunt was diagnosed. The patient was transferred to theatre where the defect was successfully repaired. Post-traumatic VSD is a rare complication of penetrating heart injuries and has a tendency to present late. Follow up of such cases is recommended with repeat echocardiography.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Suicide, Attempted; Electrocardiography; Wounds, Penetrating; Heart Injuries; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular