Isolated right atrial tear following blunt chest trauma - Report of three cases

Blunt chest trauma causing isolated right atrial tear and cardiac tamponade in three patients is reported. All three patients presented with hypotensi on, elevated central venous pressure and altered consciousness. Echocardiog raphic examination demonstrated pericardial effusion in all three cases. Al l three patients underwent operation with a median sternotomy approach with out using cardiopulmonary bypass. At operation, two patients had one tear i n the right atrium, the other had two tears in the right atrium. All three patients recovered uneventfully. Early use of echocardiography to detect th e presence of hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in patients with suspec ted atrial rupture following blunt chest trauma is advocated.