Atypical Shard "Bullet" Penetrating the Chest

Guiducci GM, Kawamukai K, Salomone Di Saverio, Anna M. Parisi, Leuzzi G, Sergio N. Forti Parri and Tugnoli G

Thoracic Surgery Unit, Maggiore and Bellaria Hospitals, Italy
Emergency Surgery and Trauma Surgery Unit, Trauma Center, Maggiore Hospital, Italy
Department of Surgical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Italy

^*Correspondance to: Gian Marco Guiducci 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1134

Abstract

A case of a 47-year-old male with a chest wall wound is reported. An accurate understanding of the events was unobtainable from the patient because he was born deaf-mute. The initial suspect of a limited superficial injury, suggested by the absence of major clinical consequences, was contradicted by a subsequent CT scan that revealed a retained metallic foreign body within the chest. The right lung was deeply injured but fortunately without major hemorrhage, although the shard was very close to the superior vena cava. Right thoracotomy was performed and the atypical “bullet” was removed without complications.

Keywords

Trauma; Trauma penetrating; Hemothorax; Pleural space

Cite the article

Guiducci GM, Kawamukai K, Di Saverio S, Parisi AM, Leuzzi G, Sergio N. Atypical Shard "Bullet" Penetrating the Chest. Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1134.