Left ventricle rupture in a truck driver caused by a tire explosion

Abstract

A case of left ventricle rupture caused by tire explosion is reported because it seems to be unique in literature. A 37-year-old male truck driver was injured in the chest-upper-abdomen level of his body by an exploding tire; the event resulted in him losing consciousness at the scene. An echocardiogram performed 30 min later after arrival at the emergency room showed a small left ventricle, a dilated left atrium, mild mitral regurgitation, and a large amount of pericardial effusion. There was no evidence of heart rupture at this point. The patient became agitated and was put under the tranquilizer control. It was then arranged for him to receive computed tomography of the brain and abdominal ultrasound. During these evaluations, the patient began to have episodes of hypotension despite adequate volume resuscitation. Therefore, he was taken to the operating room, where sternotomy and cardiorrhaphy (without cardiopulmonary bypass) was performed. Direct suturing of the damage to the heart was carried out. The patient recovered uneventfully after the operation.