Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: A 37-year-old man presented with a gunshot wound to the left chest. Initial evaluation revealed no exit wound, and a left anterolateral thoracotomy was performed, revealing a right ventricular injury. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) identified the bullet lodged in the right ventricle near the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Given the bullet's trajectory, a median sternotomy was performed for the removal of the bullet and the repair of the ventricular septal defect. The patient made a full recovery postoperatively. This case highlights the critical role of anticipating and understanding bullet trajectory in guiding surgical decision-making and optimizing patient outcomes.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.97820
Authors: Omar G Bayyati, Hamad Al Habib, Bakir Bakir, Shirin H Alokayli
Institutions: King Saud Medical City, King Saud University
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416726425