Fatal cardiac injury sustained from an air gun: Case report with review of the literature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Traditionally promoted as "toy guns," air guns have long been used by children and lack many regulatory guidelines compared to conventional firearms. However these weapons possess serious lethal potential and have led to numerous injuries and deaths.

Presentation of case

We describe a 21 year old man who sustained a penetrating cardiac wound from a pellet gun that led to cardiac tamponade and death. Post-mortem examination showed the pellet had penetrated the left ventricle and anterior esophagus with subsequent intraluminal migration into the stomach.

Discussion

Review of the literature identified 39 other cases of penetrating cardiac injuries from air guns. Sternotomy was the most frequently used surgical approach and the right and left ventricles were

SUBMITTER: Guenther T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7229402 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature