Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Severe limb pain suppresses chest pain in a patient with anterior myocardial infarction

Unterdrückte Schmerzwahrnehmung bei Vorderwandinfarkt durch traumabedingte Schmerzen in der Hand

  • Case study
  • Published:
Herz Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cardiac complications of chest trauma range from arrhythmias and valvular avulsions to myocardial contusion, rupture, and—rarely—myocardial infarction. Herein, we described a 44-year-old male patient who presented to the hospital after receiving a blow from a fist directly to the chest and fingertip amputation during a fight; anterior myocardial infarction without any chest pain was coincidentally detected. Our case illustrates the importance of electrocardiography in the initial evaluation of patients with chest trauma and suspected injury to the coronary arteries.

Zusammenfassung

Kardiale Komplikationen eines Thoraxtraumas reichen von Rhythmusstörungen und Klappenabrissen bis zu Myokardkontusion, Ruptur und − selten − Myokardinfarkt. Wir berichten von einem 44-jährigen Patienten, der im Rahmen einer Schlägerei einen Faustschlag auf die Brust erhalten und ein Fingerendglied verloren hatte. Nebenbefundlich zeigte sich ein Vorderwandinfarkt ohne Schmerzsymptomatik. Unsere Kasuistik unterstreicht die Relevanz der Elektrokardiographie bei der initialen Evaluierung von Patienten mit Thoraxtrauma und Verdacht auf Beteiligung der Koronararterien.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Rosengren A, Hawken S, Ounpuu S et al (2004) Association of psychosocial risk factors with risk of acute myocardial infarction in 11119 cases and 13648 controls from 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet 364:953–962

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Stalnikowicz R, Tsafrir A (2002) Acute psychosocial stress and cardiovascular events. Am J Emerg Med 20:488–491

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Boland J, Limet R, Trotteur G et al (1988) Left main coronary dissection after mild chest trauma. Favorable evolution with fibrinolytic and surgical therapies. Chest 93:213–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Caimi G, Hoffmann E, Montana M et al (2003) Haemorheological pattern in young adults with acute myocardial infarction. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 29:11–18

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ismailov RM, Shevchuk NA, Schwerha J et al (2004) Blunt trauma to large vessels: a mathematical study. Biomed Eng Online 3:14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gertz SD, Roberts WC (1990) Hemodynamic shear force in rupture of coronary arterial atherosclerotic plaques. Am J Cardiol 66:1368–1372

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dintenfass L (1989) Modifications of blood rheology during aging and age-related pathological conditions. Aging (Milano) 1:99–125

    Google Scholar 

  8. Melzack R, Wall PD (1965) Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science 150:971–979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Sıhhıye, Turkey

    U. Canpolat MD, E.B. Kaya MD, K. Aytemir MD & G. Kabakçı MD

Authors
  1. U. Canpolat MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E.B. Kaya MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Aytemir MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Kabakçı MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Canpolat MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Canpolat, U., Kaya, E., Aytemir, K. et al. Severe limb pain suppresses chest pain in a patient with anterior myocardial infarction. Herz 37, 706–708 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-012-3585-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-012-3585-1

Keywords

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation