Pulmonary embolism caused by a migrated gunshot projectile.
Pulmonary embolism caused by a foreign body is an exceedingly rare event. We report on a 62 year old woman who suffered a gun shot injury to her left knee with concomitant vascular lacerations. The bullet migrated through the venous system into the pulmonary circulation causing a pulmonary embolism. The projectile remained stationary for ten years. Taking into consideration that she is virtually asymptomatic and that regular follow up examinations showed no further migration of the foreign body, we opted for a conservative venue of management.
Dulić
Grgur
G
Department of Surgery, University Hospital "Osijek", Osijek, Croatia. grgurdulic@yahoo.com
Candrlić
Kresimir
K
Blazeković
Robert
R
Sego
Krunoslav
K
Gasparović
Hrvoje
H
Sarić
Gordan
G
Candrlić-Kalajdzić
Jasenka
J
D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging