Non-penetrating cardiac and aortic trauma.

Accepted for publication 15 May 1997 Blunt, non-penetrating trauma to the heart and great vessels occurs most commonly following road traffic accidents. Other causes include direct blows to the chest, falls from great heights, sporting and industrial injuries, and kicks by animals. The potential mechanisms by which blunt chest trauma can result in cardiac and aortic injury have been described as: direct force against the chest; bidirectional forces against the thorax; increases in thoracic pressure resulting from sudden compression of the abdomen or lower limbs; sudden deceleration; and blast and concussive forces.' It is presumed that the frequency of cardiac injury reflects the incidence of such trauma and the relative position of the cardiac chambers within the thorax.