Experimental model of heart contusion.

The proposed experimental model reproduces the mechanism of isolated contusion of the heart resultant from the chest stroke against the steering wheel prop in a car accident. The conditions of experiment rule out the additional pathogenetic factors occurring in clinical practice (extracardiac injuries, alcohol intoxication, blood loss, pain, etc.) and hence, it is possible to study the mechanisms of developing myocardial dysfunction proper and its contribution to the course and outcome of the posttraumatic period. Clinical, hemodynamic, and pathomorphological equivalents of this kind of blunt injury of the heart were obtained.