Blunt cardiac trauma: Atrioventricular valve disruption and ventricular septal defect

Nonpenetrating cardiac trauma resulting in cardiac chamber or valvar rupture is uncommon, requiring a high degree of suspicion for diagnosis. Fi case involving avulsion of the tricuspid and mitral papillary muscles with resultant interventricular septal rupture is reported. This case illustrates the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in the rapid diagnosis of blunt cardiac trauma. Surgical treatment of this condition is also discussed. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.