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From Arm to Heart: A Case of Migrated Foreign Body Retention

Longhui Guo1, Yang Yang2, Zhenxing Liang1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

JACC. Case Reports
|May 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Foreign bodies in the heart are rare but dangerous. This case involved a metallic strip migrating from the elbow to the heart, requiring emergency surgery for removal.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Foreign bodies in the heart are uncommon, often resulting from unexpected trauma.
  • Complications can be severe, particularly with sharp or migrating objects.
  • Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in identification and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review a rare case of cardiac foreign body migration.
  • To emphasize the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges presented by such cases.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a foreign body migration from the left elbow to the heart.
  • Utilized radiography, computed tomography (CT), and echocardiography for diagnosis.
  • Surgical removal of the cardiac foreign body.

Main Results:

  • A black, metallic, strip-like foreign body was identified within the right ventricle, lodged among the papillary muscles.
  • The foreign body was successfully removed via emergency cardiac surgery.
  • The patient's condition was resolved post-intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Foreign body migration to the heart, though rare, necessitates prompt and comprehensive evaluation.
  • Advanced imaging modalities like CT and echocardiography are vital for accurate localization.
  • Timely surgical intervention is critical for successful outcomes in cardiac foreign body cases.

Keywords:
cardiac foreign bodyforeign body retentionleft elbowneedle-like pain

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