title: Unusual case of self-inflicted thoracic knife wounds with five knives embedded in the left thoracic cavity.
abstract: Suicide by chest stabbing is a rare cause of penetrating chest trauma. We hereby report a unique case of suicide attempt with multiple thoracic stab wounds and five embedded knives. Although the long kitchen knives were entirely embedded into the left hemithorax no fatal injury occurred. Emergency thoracotomy was performed to remove the knives and repair the lung laceration. Uneventful recovery followed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinic of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Tartu University Clinics, Puusepa 8, 51014 Tartu, Estonia. tanel.laisaar@kliinikum.ee
authors.forename: Tanel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laisaar
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery