Left atrial rupture following blunt thoracic injury : case report

A 22-year-old man presented with intermittent tachycardia and left-sided flail chest after an automobile accident. Initially his condition was stable, but 7 hours after the injury cardiac asystole appeared. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately begun and operation was performed. A rupture of the left atrium was successfully repaired without cardiopulmonary bypass.