Routine ECG is recommended in patients with chest trauma to detect transient conduction abnormalities like right bundle branch block and avoid future misinterpretation.
Suggests transient conduction defects after minor chest trauma; case reports leave open whether routine ECG is warranted.
Transient right bundle branch block was observed in two patients after relatively minor trauma to the chest wall caused by a blunt object. The most consistent symptom was chest pain and the electrocardiogram was diagnostic. A routine ECG should be made in all patients with chest trauma, and serial tracings are indicated when precordial pain persists. Electrocardiograms during the acute phase are essential not only for immediate diagnosis and treatment but also to help avoid erroneous interpretations of any residual ECG changes during future examinations.
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Harry F. Zinsser (1969) studied this question.
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