Floating death in pericardium

A 12-year-old boy referred from another facility after sustaining stray bullet injury to chest on left side with no exit wound. He remained stable through out although chest intubation was done in referring hospital. In our Emergency Room he remained well therefore shifted to surgical unit. Investigations revealed bullet in pericardial cavity. It was decided to remove the bullet on elective basis. Surgery was deferred at the request of parents. Six months later child was operated. Initially thoracoscopy was performed but it was converted to open thoracotomy as bullet could not be identified. It was then retrieved easily from paricardial cavity. Post operative recovery was uneventful