Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2014 Mar-Apr;47(2):128-30.
doi: 10.1590/S0100-39842014000200018.

Bullet embolism of pulmonary artery: a case report

Mauricio Gustavo Ieiri Yamanari  1 , Maria Clara Dias Mansur  2 , Fernando Uliana Kay  3 , Paulo Rogerio Barboza Silverio  3 , Shri Krishna Jayanthi  4 , Marcelo Buarque de Gusmão Funari  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

Bullet embolism of pulmonary artery: a case report

Mauricio Gustavo Ieiri Yamanari et al. Radiol Bras. 2014 Mar-Apr.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

The authors report the case of a patient victim of gunshots, with a very rare complication: venous bullet embolism from the left external iliac vein to the lingular segment of the left pulmonary artery. Diagnosis is made with whole-body radiography or computed tomography. Digital angiography is reserved for supplementary diagnosis or to be used as a therapeutic procedure.

Relatamos o caso de um paciente vítima de tiros por arma de fogo e com uma rara complicação: embolia venosa de um projétil desde a veia ilíaca externa esquerda até o ramo lingular da artéria pulmonar esquerda. Radiografias de corpo inteiro ou tomografia computadorizada do corpo inteiro devem ser utilizadas. Angiografia digital fica reservada para complementação diagnóstica ou como procedimento terapêutico.

Keywords: Bullet embolism; Computed tomography; Pulmonary arteriography; Trauma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plain chest radiography demonstrates the presence of a firearm projectile in the left pulmonary hilum. Neither pneumothorax, hemothorax nor fractures are identified.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pelvic computed tomography (bone window) identifies presence of metal fragments adjacent to the left pelvic muscles.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pelvic computed tomography (soft tissue window) demonstrates the presence of densification adjacent to left iliac vessels and a small amount of free fluid (arrow).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pulmonary arteriography with selective characterization of left pulmonary artery demonstrates decreased blood flow toward the lingular segment of the left upper pulmonary lobe.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Reichenheim ME, de Souza ER, Moraes CL, et al. Violence and injuries in Brazil: the effect, progress made, and challenges ahead. Lancet. 2011;377:1962–1975. - PubMed
    1. Lichte P, Oberbeck R, Binnebösel M, et al. A civilian perspective on ballistic trauma and gunshot injuries. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2010;18:35–35. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Miller KR, Benns MV, Sciarretta JD, et al. The evolving management of venous bullet emboli: a case series and literature review. Injury. 2011;42:441–446. - PubMed
    1. Colquhoun IW, Jamieson MP, Pollock JC. Venous bullet embolism: a complication of airgun pellet injuries. Scott Med J. 1991;36:16–17. - PubMed
    1. Schurr M, McCord S, Croce M. Paradoxical bullet embolism: case report and literature review. J Trauma. 1996;40:1034–1036. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources