Transfemoral extraction of an intracardiac bullet embolus.
Missiles may reach the heart via direct penetration of the thoracic cavity or indirectly by means of the venous circulation. Often the hemodynamic stability of the patient dictates the approach that is used not only to retrieve the projectile but also to repair associated life-threatening injuries. The case of a 40-year-old man with an intracardiac missile after a gunshot wound to the right gluteal area is presented along with the transfemoral technique used to recover an intracardiac projectile. This approach may be used instead of thoracotomy for missile extraction in stable patients.
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Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Atlanta, Georgia 30310-1495, USA.
D000328:Adult; D002081:Buttocks / Q000293:injuries*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005268:Femoral Vein; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging