Left ventricular rupture with resulting cardiac tamponade due to blast force trauma from gunshot wound

Background: Acute cardiac tamponade can rapidly become a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention. Common etiologies of acute cardiac tamponade include blunt or penetrating trauma, surgical complications, sequelae from myocardial infarction and effusion.

Objectives: This case report illustrates an instance where penetrating trauma mimics non-penetrating blunt force trauma.

Case report: The following is a report of a woman who died from cardiac tamponade secondary to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. This case is unique because the pericardium was not perforated; the left ventricle sustained numerous lacerations from the blast forces upon discharge of the weapon, resulting in a hemopericardium.

Conclusion: This article defines cardiac tamponade, presents the case, and discusses shotgun ballistics, wounding mechanisms, and blunt force trauma.