Penetrating Cardiac Trauma with Retained Intra - Myocardial Pellets - A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Penetrating ballistic cardiac injury is usuallyfatal before victim the gets any medical help. Retained intracardiac missile is a very rare entity and so far a very few caseshave been reported in the literature.Case report We describe a young patient who presentedwith multiple life threatening pellet injuries involving chest,abdomen, and limbs. Patient had CT and echocardiographydocumented retained pellets in the heart with pericardialeffusion. Patient was managed successfully using conservativeapproach without any surgical intervention.Conclusion: this case highlights the importance of carefulmonitoring and conservative approach in such critically illpatients for a better outcome.