Table 1.
Common diagnostic findings and therapeutic procedures reported in the literature (cases 1–8) and the present case report (case 9)
| FINDINGS | THE CASES |
| Hemodynamics | |
| CVP ≥ 20 H2O | 1, 3, 9 |
| SBP ≤ 70 mmHg | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 |
| Thorax | |
| Bruised chest wall | 2 |
| Pneumothorax | 4 |
| Lung contusion | 4 |
| Sternal fracture | 2, 6, 7 |
| Cyanosis | 1, 6 |
| Muffled heart sounds | 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 |
| Enlarged heart silluette | 4, 5, 6 |
| Widened mediastinum | 4, 5,,6, 9 |
| Cardiac tamponade | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 |
| Pericardial tear associated to RAA injury | 3 |
| Hemothorax | 3 |
| Rib fracture | 7, 8 |
| Neck | |
| Neck vein distension | 2, 5, 6 |
| Abdomen | |
| Liver injury | 1, 2, 4, 8, 9 |
| Spleen injury | 4, 8, 9 |
| Extremity | |
| Lower limb fractures | 1, 4, 7, 8, 9 |
| SURGICAL PROCEDURES | |
| Pericardiocentesis | 1, 3, 8 |
| Laparotomy | 1. 4. 5.7, 8, 9 |
| Sub-xiphoidal pericardial window | 4, 5, 7, 9 |
| Opening of the diaphragm at laparotomy | 3 |
| Access to RAA: | |
| Bilateral thoracotomy | 9 |
| Medial sternotomy | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| RAA injury repair: | |
| Ligature | 2 |
| Suture | 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 |
Main diagnostic and surgical findings and/or procedures performed in the 9 cases of isolated blunt traumatic rupture of the right atrium appendage (RAA) here discussed CVP: central venous pressue. SBP: systolic blood pressure. RAA: right atrium appendage. Figures in the right column of the Table represent the cases number: 1 (Trueblood et al [5]), 2 (Galton et al [6]), 3 (Leavitt et al [7]), 4 and 5 (Kupferschmidt et al [8]), 6 (Degiannis E et al [9]), 7 (Dagenais F et al [10]), 8 (Ilkjoer LB et al [11]).