Ventricular tachycardia from intracardiac hematoma in the setting of blunt thoracic trauma

Abstract

In the victims of motor vehicle accidents, unrecognized myocardial injuries may pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Herein, we present a case of a 17-year-old man who developed multiple ventricular premature complexes and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in the setting of blunt chest trauma from a motor vehicle accident. We discuss significance of the electrocardiographic abnormalities in making an accurate diagnosis of cardiac hematoma and its management.

Keywords

• Cardiac hematoma
• Premature ventricular complexes
• Ventricular tachycardia
• ECG
• MRI