Delayed shotgun pellet migration to the right ventricle

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Trauma Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Bullet emboli to the heart are rare but documented occurrences.
• Retained projectile fragments pose long-term health risks.
• Intravascular migration of foreign bodies can lead to serious complications.

Observation:

• A patient with a history of shotgun injury to the buttock presented with a unique clinical situation.
• Retained shotgun pellets were noted in the buttock region.
• Over a 7-10 year period, one pellet demonstrated intravascular migration.

Findings:

• The migrated shotgun pellet reached an intracardiac position.
• This represents a delayed intravascular migration of a retained projectile fragment.
• The case underscores the potential for late complications from retained ballistic materials.

Implications:

• Physicians should consider the possibility of delayed migration of retained ballistic materials in patients with a history of penetrating trauma.
• Advanced imaging may be necessary to identify migrated fragments.
• This case contributes to the understanding of foreign body migration dynamics and long-term trauma sequelae.