Bullet embolus to the heart after gunshot wound to the neck: a case report

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Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
10:34

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Published on: August 30, 2020

Jacob M Breeding1, R Stephen Smith, Jonathan M Dort

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, Kansas 67214, USA.

The American Surgeon
|January 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A gunshot victim with a bullet in her heart underwent successful percutaneous transvenous basket extraction. This minimally invasive technique offers a viable alternative for removing intracardiac foreign bodies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Trauma Surgery

Background:

  • Gunshot wounds can lead to complex injuries, including intracardiac foreign bodies.
  • Traditional methods for foreign body removal may be invasive and carry significant risks.

Observation:

  • A 43-year-old female presented with gunshot wounds and a bullet lodged in the right atrium.
  • Initial attempts to locate the foreign body during median sternotomy using fluoroscopy were unsuccessful.

Findings:

  • A metallic foreign body (bullet) was confirmed in the right atrium via CT scan and X-ray.
  • Percutaneous transvenous basket extraction through a right femoral vein cutdown successfully removed the intracardiac bullet.

Implications:

  • Percutaneous transvenous basket extraction is an effective and less invasive option for managing intracardiac foreign bodies.
  • This technique can be crucial in trauma cases where open surgery is not feasible or has failed.
  • Highlights the importance of advanced interventional techniques in managing complex cardiovascular trauma.

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