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Transcaval migration of an acupuncture needle from the abdominal cavity to the heart
David Neely1, Reubendra Jeganathan, Gianfranco Campalani
1Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Insights
A patient intentionally inserted an acupuncture needle into his abdomen, which then migrated to the heart. The foreign body was successfully removed from the right ventricle using cardiopulmonary bypass.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Case Reports
- Surgical Procedures
Background:
- Foreign body migration is a rare but serious complication.
- Accidental or intentional insertion of sharp objects can lead to internal injuries.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an acupuncture needle inserted into the abdomen.
- The needle was found to have migrated intracardially.
Findings:
- The migrated acupuncture needle was located within the right ventricle.
- Surgical removal was successfully performed using cardiopulmonary bypass.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for deep tissue migration of foreign bodies.
- Effective management requires prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention to prevent further complications.
Abstract:
We report the case of a patient who was noted to have inserted an acupuncture needle into his abdomen. The needle migrated to the heart and was removed from the right ventricle using cardiopulmonary bypass.
