Background: Dislocation of the heart is a rare complication of thoracic blunt trauma. A high index of suspicion of pericardium rupture is necessary to formulate an early diagnosis to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Patients: A 23-year-old man suffered a blunt thoracoabdominal trauma and was admitted 3 days later to a university hospital ICU for right heart luxation due to right pericardial tear. Mechanical ventilation delayed radiological findings.
Methods and results: Surgery by repositioning the heart and repairing the pericardial tear allowed restoration of hemodynamic equilibrium.