Evaluation and Management of Blunt Cardiac Injury

Authors:

Chad D. VanderLinden B.A.

Kemp H. Kernstine M.D., PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Surgery

Alfred R. Hansen M.D., PhD
Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine

Jeffrey E. Everett M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery

The University of Iowa

Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
First Published: August 2002
Last Revised: August 2002

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   1. Overview
   2. Epidemiology
   3. Assessment of the Patient with Suspected BCI
   4. Biomechanics of BCI
   5. Pathophysiology
2. Blunt Cardiac Injury Without Rupture
   1. Diagnostic Strategies
      1. Electrocardiogram
      2. Cardiac Enzymes
      3. Echocardiography
      4. Radionuclide Imaging
   2. Management of Patients at Risk for BCI
3. Blunt Cardiac Injury With Myocardial Rupture
   1. Epidemiology
   2. Pathophysiology
   3. Clinical Features
   4. Diagnostic Strategies
   5. Management of Cardiac Tamponade in BCI
4. References