Dataset Information

Fatal cardiac injury sustained from an air gun: Case report with review of the literature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Traditionally promoted as "toy guns," air guns have long been used by children and lack many regulatory guidelines compared to conventional firearms. However these weapons possess serious lethal potential and have led to numerous injuries and deaths.

Presentation of case

We describe a 21 year old man who sustained a penetrating cardiac wound from a pellet gun that led to cardiac tamponade and death. Post-mortem examination showed the pellet had penetrated the left ventricle and anterior esophagus with subsequent intraluminal migration into the stomach.

Discussion

Review of the literature identified 39 other cases of penetrating cardiac injuries from air guns. Sternotomy was the most frequently used surgical approach and the right and left ventricles were the most commonly affected chambers. Bullet embolization was the most frequently reported complication. Including our case, five deaths related to penetrating cardiac injury from air guns were identified.

Conclusions

This report highlights the seriousness of air guns and demonstrates a unique intra-thoracic injury.

SUBMITTER: Guenther T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7229402 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Fatal cardiac injury sustained from an air gun: Case report with review of the literature.

Guenther Timothy T Chen Sarah S Wozniak Curtis C Leshikar David D

International journal of surgery case reports 20200511

<h4>Introduction</h4>Traditionally promoted as "toy guns," air guns have long been used by children and lack many regulatory guidelines compared to conventional firearms. However these weapons possess serious lethal potential and have led to numerous injuries and deaths.<h4>Presentation of case</h4>We describe a 21 year old man who sustained a penetrating cardiac wound from a pellet gun that led to cardiac tamponade and death. Post-mortem examination showed the pellet had penetrated the left ven ...[more]

PMID: 32417728

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Project description:Background: Cerebral infarction is a rare neurological complication of Kawasaki disease (KD) and occurs in the acute or subacute stage. There have been no reported cases of late-onset fatal cerebral infarction presenting over 1 year after the onset of KD. Case Presentation: A 5-month-old male patient with KD received timely intravenous immunoglobulin therapy; however, extensive coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) and coronary artery thrombosis (CAT) developed 1 month later. Anticoagulation and thrombolytic agents were suggested, but the child's parents refused. Fifteen months after KD onset, an attack of syncope left him with left hemiplegia; brain computerized tomography (CT) scans revealed cerebral infarction of the right basal ganglion without hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed severe stenosis of the right middle cerebral artery, and a series of tests were performed to exclude other causes of cerebral infarction. Considering the cerebral infarction and CAT, combination therapy with urokinase and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was initiated within 24 h of syncope onset, together with oral aspirin and clopidogrel. Five days later, his clinical symptoms partially regressed and he was discharged. Unfortunately, 5 days after discharge, his clinical condition suddenly deteriorated. Repeat brain CT showed hemorrhagic stroke involving the entire left cerebral area, in addition to the previous cerebral infarction in the right basal ganglion, with obvious secondary cerebral swelling and edema, which might have been caused by previous thrombolysis. Severe cerebral hernias developed quickly. Regrettably, the patient's parents abandoned treatment because of economic factors and unfavorable prognosis, and he died soon after. Conclusions: Cerebral infarction and cerebral artery stenosis can develop late, even 1 year after the onset of KD. Pediatricians should be aware of the possibility of cerebrovascular involvement in addition to cardiac complications during long-term follow-up of KD patients. Prompt anticoagulation therapy and regular neuroimaging evaluation are essential for the management of patients with KD with giant CAA and/or CAT.

Dataset Information

Fatal cardiac injury sustained from an air gun: Case report with review of the literature.

Introduction

Presentation of case

Discussion

Conclusions

Publications

Fatal cardiac injury sustained from an air gun: Case report with review of the literature.

Similar Datasets

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