Cardiac contusion or blunt injury to the heart is a direct blow to the chest that results to bruising of the heart muscles, tears to the walls of the heart or damage to the heart valve.
A blunt injury is any strong blow that does not pierce or break through the skin. The blunt injuries to the heart can be triggered by vehicular accidents, falls from a great height or even a direct blow. In case the heart is significantly damaged, it can result to death before treatment can be started. Nevertheless, many injuries typically deteriorate over hours or even longer.
Cardiac contusion can disrupt the normal, regular beating of the heart which causes it is become too rapid, too slow or erratic. A tear in the wall of the heart often results to substantial bleeding before the individual can be taken to a healthcare facility. Nevertheless, bleeding from a small-sized tear is oftentimes contained by the membrane bordering the heart long enough for treatment to be started. The buildup of blood around the heart can disrupt with the ability of the heart to fill with blood.
What is commotio cordis?
Commotio cordis is abrupt cessation of the heart due to a blow to the front part of the chest. Essentially, this blow involves a hard object that rapidly moves.
Understandably, this typically occurs during sports activities among young individuals. The precise cause for cardiac arrest is still vague but commotio cordis is not triggered by an underlying heart condition or from physical damage to the heart muscle.
What are the indications of cardiac contusion?
A blunt injury can trigger various symptoms. Many individuals experience discomfort and often bruising or other damages around the ribs or breastbone.
In some cases, there are symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath. Some might go into a state of shock. The skin can become sweaty, bluish and cool while the blood pressure is extremely low. The heart rhythms might be erratic and the individual feels that the heart is racing, pounding or beating abnormally.
Management
The management of cardiac contusion is focused on dealing with the related issues such as heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrest.
An individual with an erratic heart rhythm should stay in a hospital for monitoring since the abnormal heart rhythm can suddenly become serious.
If cardiac contusion causes other issues, hospitalization is required for further treatment.
Once an individual collapse after sustaining a blunt blow to the chest, he/she should be assessed right away to check if he/she is having cardiac arrest. If cardiac arrest is likely, CPR is started right away and an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used if available.