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Case Reports
. 2021 Apr 22:33:100489.
doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2021.100489. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Videothoracoscopic approach to the extraction of a cardiac retainer missile

Carlos Andres Muñoz  1 , Jairo González Quitian  2 , Alberto García  1 , Carlos Alberto Ordoñez  1 , Víctor Rafael Buchelli  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Videothoracoscopic approach to the extraction of a cardiac retainer missile

Carlos Andres Muñoz et al. Trauma Case Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

The presence of foreign bodies (FB) retained in the heart or pericardium secondary to penetrating trauma in stable patients is a very rare event and its management is controversial. We present the case of a 19-year-old patient who was admitted to our trauma center hemodynamically stable because of two gunshot wounds in the lumbar region. A chest x-ray (CXR) revealed a blurred foreign body over the right heart chamber, thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a free projectile over the left atrial wall, and transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed a hyperrefringent pericardial sac image near the right ventricle. Finally, the patient went to surgery where a missile was removed from the pericardial sac by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Keywords: Bullet embolus; Cardiac injury; Cardiac missiles; Pericardium injury.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anteroposterior Chest X-ray (A), Lateral Chest X-ray (B). They show a missile on the right cardiac silhouette (red arrow) and another in subcutaneous tissue (blue arrow). (C) Thorax CT-scan with metallic fragment near the left atrium (yellow arrow).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A. and B. Hemopericardium. C. Free missile in pericardial space (white arrow). D. Extracted missile.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Hole in the center tendon of the diaphragm. (A) View from the pericardial space (white arrow). (B) View from the abdomen (yellow arrow). (C) Closure of the defect with a bearded suture by laparoscopy (red arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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