Work

Myocardial Contusion Due to Ballistic Impact Force

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Myocardial contusion typically occurs from blunt cardiac trauma often due to motor vehicle collisions and falls from a significant height. Gunshot wounds may cause compression and stretching of tissue from the sonic pressure waves that precedes the bullet. Myocardial contusions are difficult to accurately diagnose due to lack of standardized approach to their evaluation and variability in their presentation. CASE: We present 3 unique cases of myocardial contusion following gunshot wounds: a 40-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the left chest and buttocks, a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the chest, and a 25-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the left upper chest, left arm, and right hand. All cases presented with ST-segment elevation and elevated high-sensitivity troponin I. DISCUSSION: Myocardial contusion has a diverse presentation and management should be focused on treating complications of cardiac injury and ruling out more serious complications requiring emergent surgical management.

Source: JACC Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103504

Authors: Shaikh B. Iqbal, Ahmad Amin, Andrew P. Hill, Ryan L. Wallace, Allen Taylor

Institutions: MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Mayo Clinic, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute

Language: English

Topic: Trauma Management and Diagnosis

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $850