title: Major mediastinal injury from crossbow bolt.
abstract: We treated a 26-year-old male who sustained a self-inflicted injury to the mediastinum with a crossbow bolt. Injuries involved penetration of the sternum 1 cm below the sternomanubrial joint, right lung, pericardium, ascending aorta, right pulmonary artery, esophagus, and azygos vein. He was treated successfully with cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. Exposure was achieved with a combination of a sternotomy and right thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Townsville General Hospital, Queensland, Australia. santiago_endara@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Endara
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Xabregas
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zonta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Avramovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D017128:Embolectomy; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery