Embolization by Bullet Dislodged from the Heart

Abstract Embolization by a dislodged projectile is a rare complication that may occur in cases of gunshot cardiac injuries. We report a case of a firearm projectile cardiac injury that evolved, with dislocation of the projectile during cardiac surgery, into embolization of the right external carotid artery.

Anterior minithoracotomy: a safe approach for surgical asd closure & asd device retrieval

Abstract Objective: Midline sternotomy is the preferred approach for device migration following transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect. Results of patients operated for device migration were retrospectively reviewed after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect. Methods: Among the 643 patients who underwent atrial septal defect with closure device, 15 (2.3%) patients were referred for device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect. Twelve patients underwent device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect through right antero-lateral minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation. Three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Results: Twelve patients operated through minithoracotomy did not require conversion to sternotomy. Due to device migration to site of difficult access through thoracotomy, cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic instability, respectively, three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Mean aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 28.1±17.7 and 58.3±20.4 minutes, respectively. No patient had surgical complication or mortality. Mean intensive care unit and hospital stay were 1.6±0.5 days and 7.1±2.2 days, respectively. Postoperative echocardiography confirmed absence of any residual defect and ventricular dysfunction. In a mean follow-up period of six months, no mortality was observed. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I without wound or vascular complication. Conclusion: Minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass is a safe-approach for selected group of patients with device migration following transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect without increasing the risk of cardiac, vascular or neurological complications and with good cosmetic and surgical results.

Abscesso hepático polimicrobiano por perfuração gástrica por corpo estranho / Polymicrobial hepatic abscess due to gastric perforation by foreign body

Abscesso hepático piogênico é uma condição incomum, com incidência inferior a 1% das internações hospitalares. O abscesso hepático causado por corpo estranho é uma condição extremamente rara, com possibilidade de desfecho fatal devido às dificuldades em se estabelecer o diagnóstico. Relata-se o caso de uma paciente de 52 anos, feminina, com dor abdominal difusa há 1 semana em epigástrio e hipocôndrio direito, associado a diarreia e vômitos há 5 dias e febre de 40°C. Apresentava abdome doloroso, leucocitose de 17.000 p/mm³, bilirrubina total elevada à custa de fração direta, sorologias para HIV 1 e 2 e Hepatite B e C negativas. Em ultrassonografia de abdome total, demonstrou-se imagem heterogênea de 78x61mm em segmento II e III. Na tomografia computadorizada de abdome total observou-se imagem hipodensa, hipovascular, medindo 100x81x78, em lobo hepático esquerdo. Iniciou-se antibioticoterapia empírica e realizou-se drenagem percutânea guiada por ultrassom, demonstrando infecção polimicrobiana em cultura do material. Em ultrassonografia de controle, permanecia área heterogênea, medindo 77x72x49mm em lobo hepático esquerdo. A paciente então foi submetida à laparotomia exploratória, evidenciando no intraoperatório adesão do estômago a parede posterior do fígado. Após descolamento da estrutura, observou-se corpo estranho representado por espinha de peixe no interior do parênquima hepático, oriundo de perfuração da parede anterior do estômago. Embora seja uma etiologia rara, a hipótese diagnóstica de corpos estranhos deve ser considerada em todo caso de abscesso hepático refratário ao tratamento habitual, a fim de reduzir a morbidade e mortalidade do quadro (AU)

Pyogenic hepatic abscess is an uncommon condition, with incidence below 1% of hospitalizations. Hepatic abscess caused by foreign body is an extremely rare condition, with the possibility of fatal outcome due to difficulties in establishing the diagnosis. Here the authors report the case of a 52-year-old female patient with diffuse abdominal pain for one week in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium associated with diarrhea and vomiting for 5 days and fever of 40 °C. She presented painful abdomen, leukocytosis of 17,000 p/mm³, elevated total bilirubin at the expense of direct ratio, and negative serologies for HIV 1 and 2 and Hepatitis B and C. In total abdomen ultrasound, a heterogeneous image of 78x61mm was shown in segment II and III. Computed tomography of the total abdomen showed a hypodense, hypovascular image, measuring 100x81x78mm, in the left hepatic lobe. Empirical antibiotic therapy was initiated and ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage was performed, demonstrating polymicrobial infection in culture of the material. In control ultrasonography, a heterogeneous area remained, measuring 77x72x49mm in the left hepatic lobe. The patient was then submitted to exploratory laparotomy, with intraoperative evidence of adhesion of the stomach to the posterior wall of the liver. After detachment of the structure, we observed a foreign body represented by fishbone inside the hepatic parenchyma, originating from perforation of the anterior wall of the stomach. Although it is a rare etiology, the diagnostic hypothesis of foreign bodies should be considered in all cases of hepatic abscess refractory to usual treatment, in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the condition (AU)

Migrated pharyngeal fish bone causing spondylodiscitis. Case report / Espondilodiscite causada por espinha de peixe migrada para faringe. Relato de caso / Espondilodiscitis causada por espina de pescado migrada para la faringe. Relato de caso

Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common problem seen at emergency rooms and frequently involves chicken and fish bones. There are few cases of migrated foreign bodies through the retropharynx causing infectious process in the area but no one, despite the proximity, causing spondylodiscitis. Perhaps such condition is attributed to the integrity of the longus colli fascia covering and protecting the cervical spine. We described the first case of spondylodiscitis due to a foreign body (saw-toothed fish bone) that penetrated the longus colli fascia and carved into vertebral body C3.

A ingestão de corpos estranhos é problema comum nos pronto-socorros e geralmente ocorrem com ossos de aves e espinhas de peixes. Há alguns relatos de casos de migração de corpos estranhos para a retrofaringe, que causam processo infeccioso local, mas não há nenhum caso descrito de espondilodiscite (apesar da proximidade). Talvez a ausência de infecção na coluna vertebral decorra da integridade da fáscia do músculo longo do pescoço, que recobre e protege a coluna cervical. Descrevemos o primeiro caso de espondilodiscite em decorrência de migração de uma espinha serrilhada de peixe que penetrou profundamente na fáscia do músculo longo do pescoço e atingiu o corpo vertebral de C3.

La ingestión de cuerpos extraños es un problema común en los puestos de primeros auxilios y, generalmente, ocurre con huesos de aves y espinas de pescados. Hay algunos relatos de casos de migraciones de cuerpos extraños para la retrofaringe, las cuales causan procesos infecciosos locales, pero no hay ningún caso descrito de espondilodiscitis (aun considerando la proximidad). Quizás la ausencia de infección en la columna vertebral resulte de la integridad de la fascia del músculo largo del cuello, que recubre y protege a la columna cervical. Describimos el primer caso de espondilodiscitis causado por la migración de una espina serrada de pescado, la cual penetró profundamente en la fascia del músculo largo del cuello y alcanzó al cuerpo vertebral de C3.

T-Fastener Migration after Percutaneous Gastropexy for Transgastric Enteral Tube Insertion

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the prevalence and time-course of t-fastener migration after gastropexy deployment. METHODS: We reviewed our procedural database for all percutaneous gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy tube insertions performed over a 14-month period using a widely accepted t-fastener kit for gastropexy (Kimberly-Clark). Of 201 patients, 71 (41 males, 30 females; mean age, 56 years) underwent subsequent abdominal computed tomography (CT) imaging. The location and associated findings of each t-fastener were retrospectively recorded for each CT scan performed after the tube insertion. RESULTS: A total of 153 t-fasteners were deployed during 71 procedures with subsequent CT follow-up. In the short term (within 4 weeks after deployment), 5.1% of the t-fasteners had detached and were no longer present; 59.5% were intraluminal or within the gastric wall; and 35.5% were within the anterior abdominal wall musculature or subcutaneous. In the long term (>3 months), 48.6% of the t-fasteners had detached and were no longer present, 25.0% were intraluminal or within the gastric wall, and 26.4% were within the anterior abdominal wall musculature or subcutaneous. No t-fastener-related complications, such as abscesses, fluid collections, or fistulae, were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Following gastropexy for percutaneous transgastric feeding tube placement, t-fastener migration into the abdominal wall frequently occurred soon after the tube insertion. Therefore, recent t-fastener deployment does not guarantee an intact gastropexy.

Perforación diverticular sigmoidea secundaria a la migración de endoprótesis biliar plástica / Sigmoid diverticulum perforation due to plastic biliary stent migration

Background: biliary stents are devices that are used to widen narrowed bile ducts, especially in malignant obstructions, although at present its use in benign biliopancreatic diseases is progressively increasing. Endoscopic placement of biliary stents is a well established procedure that is performed daily. Despite its frequency, has a complication rate of 5-10 percent, the most common are cholangitis and stent obstruction and there are others more rare and serious like pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation and biliary stent migration. Case report: we report a 70-years-old male with a history of plastic biliary stent placement after open cholecystectomy because of choledocholithiasis, who arrived at the Emergency Department with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. After performing imaging studies, there was significant intestinal dilation and a biliary stent in the sigmoid colon. He underwent urgent surgical intervention, having the plastic biliary stent located in a sigmoid diverticulum. We performed removal of the stent and simple suture of the sigmoid diverticular perforation. Conclusion: sigmoid diverticular perforation secondary to migration of a plastic biliary stent is a rare complication that can occur after placement of a stent in the bile duct. It must be suspected in all acute abdomens accompanied of radiological images demonstrating biliary stent migration because these patients often show atypical symptoms.

Introducción: las endoprótesis biliares son dispositivos que se emplean para ampliar las vías biliares estenosadas, especialmente en las obstrucciones malignas, aunque actualmente su uso está aumentando progresivamente en las enfermedades benignas biliopancreáticas. La colocación endoscópica de las endopró-tesis biliares es un procedimiento bien establecido que se realiza diariamente, aunque presenta una tasa de complicaciones de 5-10 por ciento, siendo las más frecuentes la colangitis y la obstrucción de la propia endoprótesis, existiendo otras más raras y graves como la pancreatitis, la hemorragia digestiva, la perforación intestinal y la migración de la endoprótesis biliar. Caso clínico: varón de 70 años de edad con antecedentes de colocación de endoprótesis biliar plástica tras presentar coledocolitiasis posterior a colecistectomía, que acudió al Servicio de Urgencias con clínica de obstrucción intestinal. Después de realizar radiología simple y ecografía abdominal, se observó importante dilatación intestinal y una endoprótesis biliar en sigma. Se practicó intervención quirúrgica urgente, hallándose endoprótesis biliar plástica enclavada en un divertículo sigmoideo. Se realizó extracción de la endoprótesis y sutura simple de la perforación diverticular sigmoidea. Conclusión: la perforación diverticular sigmoidea secundaria a la migración de una endoprótesis biliar plástica es una complicación poco frecuente que puede aparecer tras la colocación de una endoprótesis en la vía biliar. Dicha perforación debe sospecharse ante todo cuadro de abdomen agudo que se acompaña de imágenes radiológicas que demuestren la migración de la endoprótesis biliar, ya que estos pacientes no suelen presentar una sintomatología típica.

Colangitis secundaria a espirales metálicos emigrados al conducto biliar / [Cholangitis secondary to migrated metallic coils in the common bile duct].

Biliary obstructions are infrequently caused by foreign bodies. We present an unusual case of angiographically placed metallic coils into the intrahepatic arteries to provide hemostasis, that subsequently eroded into the common bile duct leading to obstructive jaundice and cholangitis a year later. In patients with history of invasive procedures, the possibility of foreign body migration into the common bile duct should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice and cholangitis.

Migração de fio de Kirschner transfixando artéria aorta torácica ascendente / Migration of a Kirschner wire into the thoracic ascendent aorta artery

A migração de pinos e hastes metálicas ortopédicos para a cavidade torácica é rara e pouco descrita na literatura médica, embora seja potencialmente fatal, principalmente quando atingem o coração ou grandes vasos intratorácicos. Reportamos um caso de migração de fio de Kirschner, implantado na clavícula direita há 10 anos, transfixando a aorta torácica em sua porção ascendente, sendo retirado por toracotomia póstero-lateral esquerda.

The orthopedic metallic pins and wires migration for the chest cavity is uncommon and rarely reported in medical literature although it is potentially lethal, especially when they reach the heart or mediastinum great vessels. We reported a case of Kirschner wire withdrawal, for right postero-lateral thoracotomy, which were transfixanting ascendent thoracic aorta artery, in its due to its migration of left clavicle, where it was placed to fix an occurred fracture 10 years before.

Síndrome de Twiddler: una causa infrecuente de disfunción de marcapaso definitivo. Caso clínico / Twiddler syndrome: Report of one case

We report a 26year old patient who had a single chamber pacemaker implantation one year before. During a routine pre-operative evaluation, pacemaker dysfunction was demonstrated due to sensing and pacing failure, associated to left pectoral muscle rhythmic contraction. Chest X-ray confirmed Twiddler syndrome, in which twisting or rotation of the device inside the pocket results in lead dislodgement and device malfunction.

Extrusion of hydrogel exoplant into upper eyelid 16 years after a scleral buckle procedure.

Sixteen years after scleral buckle surgery with a hydrogel episcleral exoplant, a 43-year-old woman presented with progressive binocular diplopia, ptosis, and an expanding mass in her upper eyelid. She underwent surgical removal of the hydrogel exoplant through an anterior approach. The exoplant proved to be friable, fragmented, and encapsulated in a fibrous tissue; the exoplant was removed in its entirety. Postoperatively, the eyelid mass resolved, while her diplopia and ptosis improved slightly.

Fractured tracheostomy tube migrating into the tracheobronchial tree: A rare complication.

Tracheostomy is a life saving procedure and many patients are discharged with permanent tracheostomy tubes. We report the rare occurrence of a fractured tracheostomy tube migrating into the tracheobronchial tree and highlight the clinical manifestations of this uncommon complication that carries the potential risk of fatal respiratory obstruction.

Dispositivo intrauterino intravesical en expulsión en embarazo de tercer trimestre: reporte de un caso / Intravesical migration of intrauterine device in a pregnant woman

Se estima que en el mundo cerca de 160 millones de mujeres son usuarias de dispositivos intrauterinos (DIU), siendo Chile uno de los países con más alta tasa, con cerca del 70 por ciento de las usuarias en el sistema público. Sin embargo, su uso no está exento de complicaciones. Presentamos un caso infrecuente de DIU intravesical en expulsión en gestante de 28 semanas.

In the world, about 160 million women are users of intrauterine devices (IUD); Chile is one of the countries with the highest rate, with about 70 percent of users in public system. However, its use may be complications. We present an unusual case of intravesical IUD expulsion in 28 weeks pregnant.

Risk factors for intraocular penetration of caterpillar hair in Ophthalmia Nodosa: A retrospective analysis.

We report risk factors associated with intraocular penetration of caterpillar hair seen at our institute from January 2005 to December 2007. Records of all patients with caterpillar hair induced ophthalmitis (CHIO) were retrospectively reviewed for clinical characteristics, anatomic location of lodgment of the caterpillar hair, treatment methods, and outcomes. Out of a total of 544 cases of CHIO, 19 eyes (seven in the anterior chamber and 12 in the posterior segment) experienced intraocular penetration (3.5%). The presence of deep intracorneal hair (80 cases, 14.7%) was found to be the only risk factor for intraocular penetration (P < 0.001). The removal of intracorneal hair was possible in only 29 out of 80 eyes (36%) and this was associated with a significantly reduced risk of intraocular penetration (P = 0.022). Patients with retained intracorneal hairs should be counseled regarding risk of intraocular penetration and closely followed up for at least six months.

Aspiración de cuerpos extraños en pediatría. experiencia de 15 años en el Hospital Nacional Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas / Foreign bodies Aspiration in a Pediatric Population. A 15 years experience in the National Hospital "Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas

La aspiración en vía respiratoria de un cuerpo extraño en la edad pediátrica es un evento relativamente frecuente y potencialmente peligroso, que exige el máximo conocimiento de la patologíay su sospecha diagnóstica fundada permitiéndonos así el inicio de un tratamiento inmediato para evitar temidas complicaciones incluyendo la muerte del niño. Se presenta la experiencia de 145 casos en el Hospital Nacional "Mario Catarino Rivas" de la Ciudad de San Pedro Sula, Honduras en el período 1996 - 2010. Predominaron en esta serie: el sexo masculino, tiempo de aspiración menor de una semana de evolución, la radiografía de tórax normal como hallazgo radiológico predominante, las semillas como el cuerpo extraño más frecuentemente extraído, siendo la broncoscopía rígida el procedimiento más utilizado para su extracción...(AU)

Acute buried bumper syndrome: An endoscopic buried bumper syndrome:approach.

Acute buried bumper syndrome is an uncommon complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement. If not recognized and treated appropriately, it can lead to serious complications including death. We report a case of an acute buried bumper syndrome, successfully managed with PEG tube repositioning through the original tract, without the need of replacement.

Small bowel perforation secondary to fish bone ingestion

Two cases of small bowel perforation due to fish bone injury were seen in the last 10 years in the department of surgery, the first was in 2004 and a further one in 2010. The first case was a sixty-two year old Bahraini male who presented to the Emergency Department with acute lower abdominal pain of four hours duration. Abdominal examination revealed, generalized tenderness and distension. There was no guarding or rebound tenderness. Bowel sounds were audible. Abdominal CT scan was not helpful in diagnosis. Conservative treatment failed and the patient needed surgical intervention. The second case was a seventy-five year old Bahraini male, known to have diabetes, hypertension and senile hypertrophy of the prostate. The patient was admitted with acute generalized abdominal pain of one day duration. Abdominal examination showed generalized abdominal tenderness and guarding with absent bowel sounds. CT scan of the abdomen showed free gas under the diaphragm and free fluid but did not show the site of perforation. Both cases needed urgent laparotomy, identification of the bowel perforation, removal of the fish bone, and simple closure of the perforation. The aim of this report is to increase the awareness of fish bone as a possible cause of small bowel perforation particularly in Bahrain, and to advise early surgical intervention and simple closure of the perforation after foreign body removal