Associated projectile inferior vena cava wound with subsequent pulmonary artery missile embolization: a case report and literature review

A rare and unpredictable complication of firearm and missile injuries is projectile embolism. With only a few cases described in the literature, bullet embolism may become a diagnostic challenge for emergency physicians and military surgeons. Bullet embolization is a rare phenomenon, but the complications can be devastating. Case presentation. A 34‑year‑old man sustained a severe complex abdominoskeletal mine‑blast injury with damage to the hollow organs (duodenum and transverse colon), inferior vena cava and both low extremities. The internal hemorrhage was stopped by phleborrhaphy. The wounds of the duodenum and large intestine were sutured, and gunshot fractures of both anticnemions were stabilized by extrafocal osteosynthesis. The whole‑body CT showed that there was a projectile embolus into the branch of the right mid‑lobe pulmonary artery. No clinical manifestations of pulmonary artery embolism were observed in the patient. After surgery, he developed multiple necrosis and transverse colon perforations that resulted in fecal peritonitis. The suture line leakage that caused the formation of a duodenal fistula and postoperative wound infection were also detected. The complications were managed by multiple reoperations. The attempts of endovascular bullet extraction weren’t undertaken due to severe concomitant injuries, complications and asymptomatic clinical course of pulmonary artery projectile embolism. Open surgery retrieval of the embolus was successfully performed on the 80th day after injury. The patient was discharged from the hospital in good condition on the 168th day after the missile wound. Conclusions. Patients with missile wounds and no exit gunshot perforation should be examined using the whole‑body CT for determining possible migration of a projectile with the blood flow. Patients with asymptomatic pulmonary artery embolism should be managed nonoperatively. In case of symptomatic pulmonary artery projectile embolism, it is reasonable to consider the possibility of open thoracic surgery.

Atypical bilateral ventilation/perfusion mismatches in an asymptomatic patient suffering from metastatic thyroid cancer

Background Pulmonary embolism is indicated by ventilation/perfusion (V/P) mismatches in ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy. However, other pathologies may also evoke segmental or lobar mismatches. Thus, diagnosis can be difficult in asymptomatic patients with equivocal clinical presentation. Case presentation We present a case of multiple bilateral pulmonary ventilation/perfusion mismatches in a poorly differentiated thyroid cancer patient. Exact diagnosis was difficult, as the patient was asymptomatic and pulmonary embolism is commonly unilateral in tumour patients and not typical for thyroid cancer. External pulmonary artery compression by aortic aneurysm, multiple metastases or additional bronchopulmonary malignancies were considered as differential diagnosis. After unilateral pulmonary and hilar metastasectomy, perfusion normalised on the operated side. Pulmonary perfusion defects due to pulmonary artery compression by hilar metastases were finally diagnosed. Pulmonary embolism was deemed unlikely due to the left-sided post-operative normalisation, persistence of right-sided V/P mismatches, and the lack of clinical symptoms. Conclusion Pulmonary artery compression may mimic pulmonary artery embolism in lung perfusion scintigraphy and should be considered in bronchopulmonary tumour patients with hilar metastases and unilateral ventilation/perfusion mismatches affecting a complete lobe or even lung. Following the presented case, also bilateral segmental and subsegmental mismatches in patients with hilar metastases from non-bronchopulmonary cancer entities should be carefully evaluated.

Features of pulmonary thromboembolism in women

Pulmonary artery embolism (PAE) is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Verification of a more common pathology takes time, which may become critical for treatment of pulmonary embolism and saving the patient’s life. Since PAE is an acute disease, the time window for medical care largely determines the prognosis. Therefore, the differential diagnostic process should include thromboembolism already at the first visit. It is important to determine risk factors for PAE taking into account the patient’s personality and gender. Obtained data may help the physician to determine quickly the expedience of visualizing studies, such as ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, angiopulmonography, computed tomographic angiopulmonography. For women, it is important to collect specific information, such as the presence of large uterine fibroids, use of combined oral contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy; to ask how long ago the patient had pregnancy and delivery, whether she has thrombophilia or oncological diseases.

Sudden Cardiac Death Caused by a Septic Coronary Artery Embolism as the First Clinical Presentation of Infective Endocarditis

This report describes an uncommon and fatal case of myocardial infarction due to coronary embolus arising from vegetation in the aortic valve with a background of infective endocarditis (IE). There are various causes of fatal IE. Myocardial infarction due to septic emboli is rare. We report a case of sudden death in a 69-year-old woman with hyperlipidemia and no known cardiac disease. She had severe general weakness and was hospitalized for colonoscopy. The patient unexpectedly presented with cardiac arrest and died. The autopsy showed total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery by an embolus, which originated from the septic vegetation of the aortic valve. Myocardial infarction from septic emboli associated with IE can be fatal and manifested as the first presentation. In autopsy practice of deceased patients with IE, careful examination of the coronary arteries is required.

Postpartum Coronary Artery Embolism

Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is rare in post-partum women. Prompt diagnosis of ACS and its etiology in postpartum women is crucial to guide the management of these complicated cases. Case summary In this case, a 37-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large left ventricular apical thrombus. The patient underwent coronary angiography in the setting of ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and troponin elevation. Coronary angiography showed a large thrombus in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) with embolization to the distal (LAD) artery and distal second diagonal branch. Thrombophilia workup was unremarkable. The patient was managed with anticoagulation. Conclusion This case demonstrates an example of acute coronary syndrome in the postpartum period due to coronary artery thrombosis.

P062 IMPLEMENTATION OF ETEP (EXTENDED TOTALLY EXTRAPERITONEAL REPAIR) AS A NEW METHOD OF INCISIONAL HERNIA REPAIR

Aim To assess the outcomes of implementation of extended Totally Extraperitoneal Repair (eTEP) for incisional hernia in our clinic. Material and Methods In our clinic abdominal wall hernias are predominantly repaired in eMILOS (endoscopic Mini or Less Open Sublay)-technique. However, we hoped for advantages in repairing incisional hernias in eTEP-technique. From 19.09.2019 till 28.04.2021 there were 13 patients with incisional hernias included to be operated in eTEP-technique. Results Among 13 patients, mean age was 64,6 years (range 47 – 78 years), 7 females (54%) and 6 males (46%). Average diameter of the hernia was 6,46 cm (range 2 – 14 cm). The mean Body Mass Index of the patients was 29,41 kg/m² (range 18,4 – 48,76 kg/m²). The mean duration of the operation was 162,38 minutes (range 106 – 237 minutes). The mean surface of the mesh was 612 cm² (range 225 – 1200 cm²). Hospital stay lasted mean of 5,8 days (range 2 – 28 days). We observed one postoperative complication as a lung artery embolism occurred in one patient with preperitoneal heamatoma due to needed anticoagulation. Till today we have not observed any recurrence. Conclusions Our study shows that a new method of incisional hernia repair with mesh placement can be a safely implemented and may have advantages compering with other laparoscopic methods. It has low complication rate, shows good cosmetic results and is cost effective.

Concomitant pulmonary embolism and upper limb ischaemia as a first presentation of a patent foramen ovale

A 78-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with syncope and dyspnoea. The left arm appeared to be cold and radial pulse was not palpable. A CT scan of the chest and left arm with intravenous contrast displayed bilateral central pulmonary embolisms in combination with a left subclavian artery embolism and an atrial septal aneurysm. Transthoracic echocardiography identified a patent foramen ovale with right-to-left shunting confirming the diagnosis of paradoxical embolism. The patient was treated with anticoagulants. In a patient presenting with a combination of a pulmonary embolism and a peripheral arterial embolism, the clinician should consider a right-to-left shunt with paradoxical embolism. In line with this, when diagnosing a peripheral arterial embolism, a central venous origin should be considered. Furthermore, when diagnosing a pulmonary embolism or other forms of venous thromboembolism, the clinician should be aware of signs of a peripheral arterial embolism.