Troponin I Elevation Occurs Early in Blunt Chest Trauma in the Absence of Underlying Heart Disease

The evidence base for echocardiography in blunt chest trauma remains an area of ongoing investigation. Based on first principles, contemporary real world practicemandates echocardiography testing in patients with cardiac specific biomarker (troponin (TnI)) elevation. Prediction of echocardiogram abnormalities based on TnI elevation has not been formally evaluated in this patient category. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with blunt chest trauma, without established underlying cardiac disease, over a calendar year, included in a trauma database in our tertiary hospital. All patient presentations with chest trauma were reviewed and TnI values and echocardiograms independently audited. Results: 337 patients presented to our tertiary trauma centre secondary to blunt force chest trauma during a full 631