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Bullet Lodged in Heart: Two Survive Near-Fatal Trauma
18 Oct
Summary
- Two patients survived with live bullets in their heart walls.
- Doctors opted for non-surgical approaches in stable cases.
- Conservative treatment requires stable heart rhythm and no active bleeding.
Two individuals have defied expectations by surviving with live bullets embedded in their heart walls, thanks to pioneering medical approaches at PGIMER. Doctors chose non-surgical methods for these critically injured patients.
The first case involved an adult male with a gunshot wound to the chest and a bullet lodged in the muscular wall between the heart's lower chambers. Given his stable heart rhythm and the bullet's position, the trauma team decided against open-heart surgery, a decision Dr. Rajesh Vijayvergia noted could have caused more harm. The patient has since recovered and remained symptom-free for two years.
A second case presented a 33-year-old who developed chest pain and fever after a shooting. A bullet was found in the right ventricle's lower wall. Doctors successfully treated his resulting inflammatory pericarditis with medications like colchicine and ibuprofen, avoiding risky surgery. He has remained well during a one-year follow-up.
Medical professionals caution that this conservative strategy is reserved for patients with stable cardiac function and no active bleeding or significant structural damage. It represents a significant departure from standard emergency procedures for such severe injuries.
