Is there a connection between blunt chest trauma and heart problems?
First of all glad to hear you did not experience any head or spine trauma after your accident. Heart problems after blunt chest trauma are common especially when broken ribs are involved. The heart lies very close to the rib cage and an injury to the chest wall can lead to heart damage. The heart muscle can become "stunned" and weakened after a traumatic injury to the chest wall, the weakened heart muscle is what causes the congestive heart failure. Sometimes the heart muscle is able to recover over time and the heart muscle may get stronger as it heals this could take several months. It is important to follow-up regularly with a cardiologist who can monitor the strength of the heart muscle. Blunt chest trauma can also cause irregular heart rhythms or arrythmias due to trauma and swelling of the heart muscle. As the heart muscle recovers and the swelling of the heart decreases some arrythmias may improve so you should also have this closely monitored by your cardiologist. The leaking left ventricular you mentioned is probably from trauma to one of the heart valves. An echocardiogram which is an ultrasound of the heart can help your doctors determine the strength of the heart muscle and monitor the heart valve function and possible recovery.
Wow, exactly what happened to my husband, except he was on a motorcycle but thankfully was wearing a helmet. He did fly over the front of the bike causing severe trauma to his lungs as well. After 11 fractured vertebrae, and 7 fractured ribs and a body brace for 4 months he ended up with CHF and then discovered he has idio cardiomyopothy grade 4, end stage!!!! Please, do not wait to see how it goes, follow everything closely and hopefully the heart muscle can repair itself, somewhat. My Hubby's has been wiped out and from this he spends 80% of his time resting. 1/10 of a second has changed his life and the neglect of the young driver that caused this. Good Luck and hope you can conquer this. Also, my husband now has an ICD which seems to pace the heart a little better.
