Successful repair of blunt cardiac rupture involving both ventricles

Blunt cardiac rupture occurs infrequently and is usually lethal. Successful repairs of isolated atrial or ventricular ruptures have been reported when the diagnosis is made early. Our patient sustained blunt cardiac rupture of both ventricles in a motor vehicle accident. The diagnosis was made during emergency exploratory laparotomy when her vital signs deteriorated without obvious cause. A large Satinsky clamp was placed across the apices of the right and left ventricle to control hemorrhage while the repair was done without cardiopulmonary bypass. She survived and was discharged to home with a normal echocardiogram.