A shot through the heart: a case report on retained bullet causing cardiac tamponade.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As a rare complication of penetrating chest trauma, one can occasionally find foreign bodies inside the pericardium. Even rarer is finding an intact bullet inside the pericardial cavity following the gunshot injury.

Case summary

A 17-year-old male presented to the emergency department as a Level 1 trauma for multiple gunshot wounds. Upon arrival, the patient was tachycardic but normotensive. Physical exam was notable for several penetrating wounds to the chest and right clavicle. The initial chest X-ray demonstrated a metallic foreign body consistent with a bullet overlying the cardiac silhouette. Approximately 24 h into the hospital course, ST-segment elevation was noted on telemetry. An electrocardiogram demonstrated sinus tachycardia with diffuse ST-segment ele

SUBMITTER: Shah R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11647594 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature