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Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in the Piglet
Published on: November 4, 2015
Intravascular bullet embolism to the right atrium
Jeffrey Springer1, William Newman, Robin McGoey
1Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, 70112, USA. jspri1@lsuhsc.edu
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|November 17, 2010
Summary
A rare bullet embolism to the right atrium occurred after a chest gunshot wound. This 0.38-caliber bullet remained in the heart for years without issue, a unique finding in ballistics trauma.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Ballistics Medicine
Background:
- Bullet embolism is a rare but serious complication of penetrating gunshot wounds.
- Intravascular bullet emboli are infrequently reported, with right atrial emboli being exceptionally uncommon (<5% of cases).
Observation:
- A case of a 0.38-caliber bullet embolus to the right atrium following a gunshot wound to the chest is presented.
- Radiological imaging confirmed the intracardiac bullet upon initial presentation.
- The patient was hemodynamically stable and treated conservatively with the bullet remaining in situ.
Findings:
- The intracardiac bullet caused no apparent clinical significance for several years.
- The bullet was only recovered during autopsy from the right atrium.
- This represents the first documented case of a 0.38-caliber bullet embolus to the right atrium with a prolonged asymptomatic period.
Implications:
- Conservative management may be a viable option for hemodynamically stable patients with intracardiac bullet emboli.
- This case highlights the potential for long-term asymptomatic retention of intracardiac foreign bodies.
- Further research into the long-term outcomes of retained intracardiac bullet fragments is warranted.
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