The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 39, Issue 1 , Pages 25-31 , July 2010

Left Ventricular Bullet Embolus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

  • Joseph Galante, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
    • Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
  • ,
  • Jason A. London, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
    • Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint Address: Jason A. London, md, mph, Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, 2315 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4207, Sacramento, CA 95817

Received 15 May 2007 ,Accepted 13 September 2007.

References 

  1. Rich NM, Collins GJ, Andersen CA, McDonald PT, Kozloff L, Ricotta JJ. Missile emboli. J Trauma. 1978;18:236–239
  2. Mattox KL, Beall AC, Ennix CL, DeBakey ME. Intravascular migratory bullets. Am J Surg. 1979;137:192–195
  3. Bartlett H, Anderson CB, Steinhoff NG. Bullet embolism to the heart. J Trauma. 1973;13:476–479
  4. Symbas PN, Picone AL, Hatcher CR, Vlasis-Hale SE. Cardiac missiles (A review of the literature and personal experience). Ann Surg. 1990;211:639–647discussion 647–8
  5. Fisk RL, Addetia A, Gelfand ET, Brooks CH, Dvorkin J. Missile migration from lung to heart with delayed systemic embolization. Chest. 1977;72:534–535
  6. Bilsker MS, Bauerlein EJ, Kamerman ML. Bullet embolus from the heart to the right subclavian artery after gunshot wound to the right chest. Am Heart J. 1996;132:1093–1094
  7. Bland EF, Beebe GW. Missiles in the heart (A twenty-year follow-up report of World War II cases). N Engl J Med. 1966;274:1039–1046
  8. Braun SD. Arterial embolization of a bullet. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;180:281
  9. Padula RT, Sandler SC, Camishion RC. Delayed bullet embolization to the heart following abdominal gunshot wound. Ann Surg. 1969;169:599–602
  10. Bett N, Walters L. Delayed presentation of right ventricular bullet embolus. Heart. 2004;90:1298
  11. Schurr M, McCord S, Croce M. Paradoxical bullet embolism: case report and literature review. J Trauma. 1996;40:1034–1036
  12. Nguyen V, Nguyen K. Plain film of intracardiac foreign bodies: the blurring effect. South Med J. 1991;84:651–653
  13. Freshman SP, Wisner DH, Weber CJ. 2-D echocardiography: emergent use in the evaluation of penetrating precordial trauma. J Trauma. 1991;31:902–905discussion 905–6
  14. Symbas PN, Vlasis-Hale SE, Picone AL, Hatcher CR. Missiles in the heart. Ann Thorac Surg. 1989;48:192–194
  15. Hashimi MW, Jenkins DR, McGwier BW, Massey CV, Alpert MA. Comparative efficacy of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in detection of an intracardiac bullet fragment. Chest. 1994;106:299–300
  16. LiMandri G, Gorenstein LA, Starr JP, Homma S, Auteri J, Gopal AS. Use of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection and consequences of an intracardiac bullet. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12:105–106
  17. Fragomeni LS, Azambuja PC. Bullets retained within the heart: diagnosis and management in three cases. Thorax. 1987;42:980–983
  18. Simstein NL. Intrapericardial tumbling bullet. Int Surg. 1999;84:361–362
  19. Fordham SD. Bullet embolism. Int Surg. 1976;61:481–483
  20. Nagy KK, Massad M, Fildes J, Reyes H. Missile embolization revisited: a rationale for selective management. Am Surg. 1994;60:975–979
  21. Symbas PN, Symbas PJ. Missiles in the cardiovascular system. Chest Surg Clin N Am. 1997;7:343–356
  22. Pecirep DP, Hopkins HR. Removal of a bullet from the right heart using controlled embolization to a peripheral vein. Ann Thorac Surg. 1994;58:1748–1750
  23. Best IM. Transfemoral extraction of an intracardiac bullet embolus. Am Surg. 2001;67:361–363
  24. Symbas PN, Hatcher CR, Mansour KA. Projectile embolus of the lung. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1968;56:97–103
  25. Symbas PN, Harlaftis N. Bullet emboli in the pulmonary and systemic arteries. Ann Surg. 1977;185:318–320
  26. Michelassi F, Pietrabissa A, Ferrari M, Mosca F, Vargish T, Moosa HH. Bullet emboli to the systemic and venous circulation. Surgery. 1990;107:239–245
  27. Kortbeek JB, Clark JA, Carraway RC. Conservative management of a pulmonary artery bullet embolism: case report and review of the literature. J Trauma. 1992;33:906–908
  28. Stephenson LW, Workman RB, Aldrete JS, Karp RB. Bullet emboli to the pulmonary artery: a report of 2 patients and review of the literature. Ann Thorac Surg. 1976;21:333–336
  29. Duncan IC, Fourie PA. Embolization of a bullet in the internal carotid artery. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2002;178:1572–1573
  30. Barrett NR. Foreign bodies in the cardiovascular system. Br J Surg. 1950;37:416–445

PII: S0736-4679(08)00169-8

doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.09.057

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 39, Issue 1 , Pages 25-31 , July 2010