CASE REPORT

Missile embolism - pulmonary vein to systemic bullet embolism. A case report and review of the literature

Letlhogela M. Ntlhe^I; Stephanus M. Komati^II; Pieter A. Fourie^III; Alewyn P. Rossouw^III

^IF.C.S. (S.A.); Department of Surgery, Dr George Mukhari Hospital and University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria
^IIF.C.P. (S.A.); Private practice, Pretoria
^IIIM.MED.; Private practice, Pretoria

SUMMARY

Missile embolism occurs very rarely. It was first reported by Thomas Davis in 1834, and only 153 cases had been reported up to 1988.¹ Rich et ai. reported a 0.3% incidence in 7 500 cases of vascular injury in the Vietnam conflict.² To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary vein entry and internal carotid artery embolisation.

“Full text available only in PDF format”

REFERENCES

1. 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.         [ Links ]

2. Rich NM, Collins GJ Jr, Andersen CA, McDonald PT, Kozloff L, Ricotta JJ. Missile emboli. J Trauma 1978; 18: 236-239.         [ Links ]

3. Schmidt GB. A fatal gunshot wound of the vascular system with embolization to the lower extremities. Zentralbl Chir 1885; 8: 131.         [ Links ]

4. Bongard F, Johs SM, Leighton TA, Klein S. Peripheral arterial shotgun missile emboli : Diagnostic and therapeutic management - case reports. J Trauma 1991; 31: 1426-1431.         [ Links ]

5. Chapman AJ, McClain JBS. Wandering missiles: autopsy study. J Trauma 1984; 24: 634-637.         [ Links ]

6. Shannon JJ Jr, Nghia M, Stanton PE Jr, Dimler M. Peripheral arterial missile embolization: A case report and 22-year literature review. J Vasc Surg 1987;5:773-778.         [ Links ]

7. Vascik JM, Tew JM Jr. Foreign body embolization of the middle cerebral artery: Review of the literature and guidelines for management. Neurosurgery 1982; 11: 532-536.         [ Links ]

8. Miner ME, Handel SF. Traumatic embolization of the intracranial internal carotid artery. Neuroradiology 1978; 15: 141-143.         [ Links ]

9. Dada MA, Loftus IAJ, Stuart GR. Shotgun pellet embolism to the brain. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1993; 14: 58-60.         [ Links ]

10. Robbs JV. Penetrating cervico-mediastinal vascular injury. Presentation at the World Congress of Trauma, Durban, 12-15 August 2003.         [ Links ]