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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

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Embolic Hypodermic Needle Causing Traumatic Cardiac Tamponade: A Case Report.

Albert F Yen1, Christina M Homer2, Alexander Mohapatra2

  • 1Division of Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

Critical Care Explorations
|March 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary

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A hypodermic needle fragment embolized to the heart, penetrating the right ventricle and causing cardiac tamponade. Prompt diagnosis through patient history is crucial for managing this rare complication of IV drug use.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Traumatology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Intravenous (IV) illicit drug use is associated with numerous health risks.
  • Foreign body embolization is a rare but serious complication.
  • Cardiac involvement presents a critical diagnostic challenge.

Observation:

  • A case of a broken hypodermic needle fragment embolizing to the heart is presented.
  • The needle fragment penetrated the right ventricle.
  • This led to hemopericardium and subsequent cardiac tamponade physiology.

Findings:

  • Foreign body embolization to the heart can cause direct cardiac trauma.
  • Cardiac tamponade resulting from needle embolization can lead to cardiac collapse.
  • Detailed patient history is essential for identifying the etiology of cardiogenic shock in such cases.
Keywords:
cardiac tamponade (C14.280.155)embolism (C14.907.355.350)needle (E07.612)pericardial effusion (C14.280.695)substance abuse—intravenous (C25.775.793)

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Implications:

  • Recognizing unusual complications of IV illicit drug use is vital for timely medical care.
  • This case highlights the severe sequelae of needle embolization, including cardiac trauma.
  • Effective management requires a high index of suspicion and thorough diagnostic evaluation.