Heterotopic Ossification of the Xiphoid after Chest Compressions.

We report the case of a 56 year-old female with a six-year history of severe epigastric pain following chest compressions for cardiac arrest. A comprehensive gastrointestinal workup was negative. However, an abdominal CT scan demonstrated an elongated xiphoid process. After a xiphoid trigger point injection, she experienced pain relief lasting four days, and thus her symptoms were attributed to xiphoidalgia secondary to heterotopic ossification following trauma. We performed an open resection of the xiphoid process. Heterotopic ossification of the xiphoid process is rare. To our knowledge, this is the only documented case secondary to trauma from chest compressions. PMID: 31108046 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Ann Thorac Surg Source Type: research