Citation

Hartert M, Dahm M, Neufang A, Vahl C. Interact. Cardiovasc. Thorac Surg. 2010; 11(5): 698-700.

Affiliation

University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery)

DOI

10.1510/icvts.2010.245100

PMID

20709697

Abstract

This case report involves a 57-year-old male, accidentally shot in the chest with a small bore firearm. The bullet entered the left hemithorax, disrupting the left internal mammarian artery. It then penetrated the anterior wall of the right ventricle causing a pericardial tamponade. After leaving the base of the right heart it perforated the diaphragm, the liver, the spleen and the pancreas. Finally, it penetrated the abdominal aorta 3 cm proximally to the coeliac trunk and reached its final position paravertebrally. This case report illustrates that the management of even minimum gunshot wounds requires a maximum variety of surgical skills. Keywords: Thoracoabdominal injury; Shotgun wound; Surgical intervention.

Language: en