Abstract

Unusual thoracic foreign body. Rev Cubana Cir [online]. 2007, vol.46, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2945.

Although thoracic foreign bodies and cases of impalement are frequently reported, they are generally left in situ, mainly when caused by gunshots, and the fragments are small. Here is the case of a patient who suffered a plastic pen shot in his chest. Since X-rays only showed two small fragments, it was decided to treat the patient in the traditional way. However, he continued being affected by pain, respiratory infections and hemoptysis; consequently, the extraction of fragments was decided upon. Thoracotomy disclosed a 7cm long pen fragment whose distal end was embedded into the costal cartilage and proximal end adjacent to right pulmonary hilius. Extraction and atypical pulmonary resection of the injured pulmonary segment were performed. The patient recovered without any complications or functional limitations

Keywords : intrathoracic foreign body; plastic; radiotransparent; impalement.

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