The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 82, 310-313, Copyright © 1981 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Right ventricular bullet embolectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass
JM Graham and KL Mattox
Victims of gunshot wounds may be noted to have bullets overlying the
cardiac silhouette on roentgenogram. Direct cardiac penetration, bullet
embolus to the heart, and missile proximity to the heart are all
possibilities which must be differentiated. An unusual case of bullet
embolism is presented in which thoracotomy was initially performed to rule
out direct cardiac penetration. At the time of exploration, an intracardiac
bullet embolus was fortuitously palpated and trapped within the apex of the
right ventricle. Right ventriculotomy and embolectomy without
cardiopulmonary bypass were performed to prevent retrograde or distal
migration.