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Wandering intravascular missiles: report of five cases from the Lebanon war
1Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
Insights
Missile embolization during the Lebanon war involved five patients. Diagnosis was confirmed via angiography and echocardiography, with surgical extraction for arterial emboli and observation for others.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- The Lebanon war (1980-1986) presented unique challenges in trauma management.
- Missile injuries can lead to complex vascular complications, including embolization.
- Understanding missile embolization patterns is crucial for effective treatment.
Abstract:
From 1980 to 1986, during the Lebanon war, five patients with missile embolization were seen at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Three had entry in the heart or thoracic aorta with peripheral embolization, and two had entry in the internal carotid artery and inferior vena cava with embolization to the middle cerebral artery and heart, respectively. Embolization was suspected when, in the absence of an exit, routine x-ray films showed the missile in a distant location. Angiography and echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis. Peripheral arterial emboli were extracted while cerebral and venous emboli were kept, as they caused transient symptoms and remained silent.