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A foreign body in the heart due to an unusual injury

Jan Harrer1, Tomas Holubec, Miroslav Brtko

  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|August 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A man with a rare foreign body in his right heart, lodged for 15 months, underwent successful surgical removal. This case highlights the risks of retained cardiac foreign bodies, even in asymptomatic patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Trauma Surgery

Background:

  • Penetrating cardiac injuries pose immediate life-threatening risks.
  • Foreign bodies within the heart present significant diagnostic and management challenges.

Observation:

  • A 44-year-old male presented with a foreign body in the right heart, sustained 15 months prior from a circular saw injury.
  • The foreign body, a spring-segment from a roller blind, was located near the right coronary artery.

Findings:

  • Despite being asymptomatic, surgical intervention was indicated due to the foreign body's size and proximity to vital cardiac structures.
  • Surgical removal of the cardiac foreign body was successfully performed.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering surgical intervention for cardiac foreign bodies, even in asymptomatic individuals, to mitigate risks of bleeding, embolization, and infection.
  • Successful management of retained cardiac foreign bodies emphasizes the role of prompt diagnosis and tailored surgical approaches.

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