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Management of BB shot wounds to the heart

E C Thompson1, E F Block, M C Mancini

  • 1Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

The Journal of Trauma
|January 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Nonoperative management is safe for stable patients with heart injuries from BB (ball-bearing) shots lodged in the muscle. Echocardiography is crucial for localization and pericardial evaluation, with no mortality observed.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Penetrating cardiac injuries can result from various projectiles.
  • Ball-bearing (BB) shot injuries to the heart are uncommon but require careful management.

Observation:

  • A retrospective review identified three patients with BB injuries to the heart.
  • All patients were hemodynamically stable upon presentation.
  • Echocardiography precisely localized BB pellets within the muscular septum.

Findings:

  • All three patients were successfully managed nonoperatively.
  • No mortality occurred in this cohort.
  • One patient experienced a transient interventricular conduction delay that resolved prior to discharge.

Implications:

  • Nonoperative management is a safe and effective strategy for stable patients with intramuscular BB cardiac injuries.
  • Echocardiography is essential for accurate pellet localization and pericardial assessment.
  • This approach minimizes surgical intervention and associated risks in select cases.
Abstract

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