Traumatic ventricular septal defect: serial follow-up with Doppler ultrasound

A three-year-old girl presented with a gunshot wound of the chest. Cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiography enabled precise location of the bullet, and assessment of the haemodynamic effects of the traumatic ventricular septal defect. Serial ultrasound examination in the acute stage confirmed that the bullet was well embedded in the left ventricular myocardium, and the ventricular septal defect was restrictive, enabling conservative management.