Behind the bruise: unmasking hidden blunt cardiac injuries

BMJ Case Reports 2026

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Authors: Ankur Handa, Praveen Arumugam, Lamk Kadiyani, Saurabh Kumar Gupta, Neeraj Parakh, Pradeep Ramakrishnan, Vineeta Ojha
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2025-268782
Cited by: 0
References: 13

Abstract

Blunt cardiac injury in children is rare and may present with delayed complications. We report two cases illustrating diverse manifestations of blunt cardiac injury: one boy in middle childhood who developed ventricular tachycardia following chest trauma, while a girl of similar age presented with a right atrial pseudoaneurysm causing dyspnoea. Multimodality imaging guided successful medical and surgical management. These cases highlight the need for a high index of suspicion, ECG and echocardiographic screening in early identification of cardiac injury following blunt trauma to the chest.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Trauma Management and Diagnosis Cardiac Structural Anomalies and Repair Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade

Publication details

Journal / source
BMJ Case Reports
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
e268782–e268782
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN