Catheter-Directed Retrieval of an Infected Fragment in a Vietnam War Veteran

Shrapnel injuries are commonly encountered in war zones. The severity of these injuries depends on the initial damage and both the anatomical and immune response at the time of injury or at more remote times in the case of reactivation.

A veteran sustained a shrapnel injury to his left lower abdomen while serving in the Vietnam War. Nearly 50 years later, the patient presented with a recurrent retroperitoneal abscess associated with a residual fragment. In cooperation between interventional radiology and surgery, traditional endovascular techniques and devices were used to relocate an extravascular, secondarily infected fragment to an area more suitable for a minor surgical approach in the left inguinal region. Subsequent surgical excision and removal required only a superficial incision as opposed to a large retroperitoneal dissection, minimizing recovery time and allowing quick and full healing of the patient.

This case demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach to transforming an otherwise large retroperitoneal dissection to a minimally invasive and technically efficient abscess drainage and foreign body retrieval.