title: The Serum Lead level in Patients With Retained Lead Pellets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients, who survived from shotgun injuries, often have some retained lead pellets in their bodies. Several cases of lead toxicity have been reported regarding these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study seeks to compare the serum lead level in patients who have retained lead pellets in their bodies with the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, we gathered the serum lead levels of 25 patients with some retained lead pellets in their bodies due to shotgun and 25 volunteers without similar lead exposure and compared them in view of the age, gender, and living place.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the mean serum lead level in both groups was lower than the standard level (i.e. 40 µg/dL) , the mean ± SD of serum lead level were 29 ± 12.8 µg/dL and 25.3 ± 6.4 µg/dL in the case and control groups, respectively without any significant difference (P = 0. 30) . However, a positive relationship was seen between serum lead level, and the number of retained lead pellets (r = 0.447, P = 0. 025) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although extensive surgery to remove the lead pellets is not recommended in patients injured with shotguns, those with many retained lead pellets in their bodies should be considered at risk for lead poisoning and monitored carefully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moazeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Faramarz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammad Alibeigi
authors.affiliation: Kashani Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poorya Mofrad
authors.affiliation: Social Health Determinants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Soleiman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kheiri
authors.affiliation: Kashani Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darvishi
keywords: Serum; Shotguns; Toxicity