Recurrent pericardial effusion due to gunshot wound of the heart in a hemodynamically stable child--a case report.
A 12-year-old girl presented with recurrent pericardial effusion due to firearm pellet injury to the left ventricle. The pellet was localized by two-dimensional echocardiography within the left ventricular apical wall. Since the patient was asymptomatic, left ventriculotomy was avoided to extract the pellet and only pericardial tube drainage was carried out. A slightly elevated blood lead level of the patient was alarming for potential subsequent lead poisoning due to retained pellets.
Tutar
H E
HE
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara University Medical School, Turkey.
Atalay
S
S
Uysalel
A
A
Ozberrak
H
H
Koçak
G
G
D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology