Myocardial infarction induced by nonpenetrating blunt trauma on the chest is uncommon and has rarely been reported. Cliniclaly, the chest pain caused by traumatic myocardial infarction could often be masked or interpreted erroneoulsy because the
variety
of symptoms could developed in such cases, and sometimes interpreted as trauma-induced bone or muscle pain and neglected. When, however, the infarction is developed, it frequently takes a course of sudden death even though clinicans take
intensive
care
of the other major injuries, and the events become to medicolegal conflict. The review of such cases may keep the clinicians on the alert of the possibility of myocardial infarction and sudden death.
I have experience of an autopsy case of myocardial infarction after blunt trauma on the chest. Clinicans diagnosed this case as post-traumatic myocardial infarction with serum level of sapartate aminotransferase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, and
creatine
phosphokinase and electrocardiographic findings of premature ventricular contraction and bizarre QRS comples, but patient died of sudden onset of shock.
In autopsy and histological examination, aorta and coronary system were relatively intact. Discontinuity of endocardium and myocardial muscle fibers was noted at the wall of left ventricle and interventricular septum. The cut surface of left
ventricular
wall showed necrotic focus with whitish discoloration, and the hole of perforation. The patient died of cardiac tamponade.
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