Citation

Nasser K, Matsuura J, Diep J. Clin. Pract. Cases Emerg. Med. 2021; 5(1): 85-88.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine)

DOI

10.5811/cpcem.2020.12.49875

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Blunt chest trauma and motor vehicle collisions are common presentations to the emergency department (ED). Chest pain in a trauma patient can usually and reasonably be attributed to chest wall injury, leading to a potential delay in diagnosis and treatment. CASE REPORT: In this case report, we present a 52-year-old male who was brought to the ED with complaints of chest pain and pressure after a motor vehicle collision. He was subsequently found to have both a displaced sternal fracture and simultaneous acute myocardial infarction with 100% occlusion of the mid left anterior descending artery without dissection requiring stent placement.

CONCLUSION: Chest pain after blunt cardiac trauma is a common complaint. While rare, acute myocardial infarction must be considered. Most injuries result as direct trauma to the artery causing either dissection or acute thrombosis resulting in a myocardial infarction as opposed to acute plaque rupture with thrombosis, as seen in this case.

Language: en