Student study notes from paramedic coursework (2023 to 2024), not medical advice. Verify clinical values against current references and your local protocols.
| EMS etiologies | Setting: ER |
Cardiac trauma results from either blunt or penetrating injuries. Blunt cardiac trauma is typically caused by direct chest impact, sudden deceleration, or compression, often seen in motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries. A notable condition, commotio cordis, involves sudden cardiac arrest due to a direct blow to the chest, leading to arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation. Penetrating cardiac trauma, caused by objects like bullets or knives, leads to severe complications such as cardiac tamponade or rupture, often requiring urgent surgical repair. Risk factors include high-impact injuries and trauma to the chest region, especially in males in their 30s and 40s.