%0 Journal Article
%T Cardiac tamponade: contrast reflux as an indicator of cardiac chamber equalization
%A Foeke J.H. Nauta
%A Wernard A.A. Borstlap
%A Zain Khalpey
%A Michael Stella
%J Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1749-8090-7-48
%X We present a case of blunt chest trauma complicated by cardiac tamponade causing cardiac chamber equalization revealed by reflux of contrast.A 29-year-old unidentified male suffered blunt chest trauma in a motor vehicle collision. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a periaortic hematoma and hemopericardium. Significant contrast reflux was seen in the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins suggesting a change in cardiac chamber pressures. After intensive treatment including cardiac massage this patient expired of cardiac arrest.Reflux of contrast on CT imaging can be an indicator of traumatic cardiac tamponade.
%K Cardiac tamponade
%K Hemopericardium
%K Blunt trauma
%K Contrast reflux
%K Cardiac hemodynamics
%U http://www.cardiothoracicsurgery.org/content/7/1/48/abstract