Blunt chest trauma from a baseball caused commotio cordis in 2 pediatric patients, resulting in 1 death, highlighting a susceptibility to this injury that resists resuscitation.
Case Report (n=2)
Commotio cordis is a functional cardiac injury from blunt chest trauma that can cause sudden death in pediatric athletes and is highly resistant to resuscitation.
Two cases of blunt chest trauma caused by a baseball are reported, including one death. At least one of these was in consequence of cardiac concussion or commotio cordis, an entity not described in teh pediatric literature. Concussion of the heart is a functional injury, in contrast to cardiac contusion or cardiac rupture, which pertains to structural injury. However, a cardiac concussion appears more likely to have immediate, dire consequences than the structural injury of cardiac contusion. Both of the cases presented occurred in the Little League baseball setting. Blunt chest trauma is reported to cause two to three deaths in youth baseball each year. There appears to be an increased pediatric susceptibility to this type of injury. Unfortunately, these cases are quite resistant to resuscitative therapy. Devices and techniques for primary and secondary prevention exist, but have yet to be systematically verified and implemented.
Thomas J. Abrunzo (Fri,) conducted a case report in Commotio cordis / blunt chest trauma (n=2). Blunt chest trauma from a baseball caused commotio cordis in 2 pediatric patients, resulting in 1 death, highlighting a susceptibility to this injury that resists resuscitation.
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