Related Experiment Videos
Intracardiac shrapnel in a polytraumatized child.
Hrvoje Gasparovic1, Ranka Stern-Padovan, Stipe Batinica
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Rebro, Kispaticeva 12, Zagreb, Croatia. hgasparovic@yahoo.com
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|March 3, 2004
Summary
A 9-year-old girl survived penetrating cardiac trauma from artillery shell shrapnel. Management involved complex cardiac and thoracic injuries, including a retained intracardiac foreign body.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Penetrating cardiac trauma poses significant surgical challenges, especially with associated multiple organ injuries.
- War-related injuries frequently involve complex trauma, complicating patient management.
- Prompt surgical intervention is critical for survival in severe cardiac trauma cases.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old female sustained severe injuries from an unexploded artillery shell.
- The patient presented with a retained intracardiac shrapnel lodged in the interventricular septum.
- Associated injuries included pneumopericardium and right-sided hemopneumothorax.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the intracardiac shrapnel was successfully performed.
- Management of the pneumopericardium and hemopneumothorax was addressed concurrently.
- The patient's complex cardiac and thoracic injuries were successfully treated.
Implications:
- This case highlights the feasibility of surgical repair for complex intracardiac foreign bodies in pediatric trauma.
- Successful management underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in high-velocity penetrating trauma.
- The report provides valuable insights into surgical strategies for rare pediatric cardiac injuries in combat settings.