title: Selective management of embolized intracardiac missiles.
abstract: Intracardiac projectiles are occasionally found in stable patients who have sustained penetrating trauma. These missiles may arise from embolization from a peripheral injury site. We describe 3 patients with embolized intracardiac projectiles. The diagnosis was suggested by the presence of a foreign body within the cardiac silhouette on chest roentgenograms and was confirmed using fluoroscopy, echocardiography, or computed tomography. The management of embolized intracardiac missiles should be individualized to each patient. All of our patients had fixed intracavitary right-sided missiles and were successfully managed expectantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Marts
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Durham
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mazuski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004617:Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*