title: Aortic bullet embolization revealed by peripheral ischemia after a thoracic gunshot wound.
abstract: We present the case of a 21-year-old male who came to the emergency ward for a thorax bullet wound. At our first check-up, the computed tomography (CT)-scan showed a pulmonary contusion, a hemothorax and a suspicious image of a thoracic aortic wound. The patient was stable, but soon after admission a distal ischemic syndrome appeared which revealed the emboli of the projectile. We removed it and a stent graft was implanted into the thoracic aorta. We report our experience of the treatment and the mechanisms that explain how such a wound did not kill the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital (Pierre Zobda Quitman Hospital), BP 632, 97261 Fort de France Cedex, Martinique, France.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pavy
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lebreton
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roques
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult