[Successful removal of aberrant needles in the pericardium and lung]

Kyobu Geka. 2006 Sep;59(10):927-31.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman who had been diagnosed as schizophrenia was admitted to our hospital, complaining of chest pain. Her chest X-ray demonstrated 9 foreign bodies in the pericardium, lung and others. Her chest computed tomography (CT) confirmed needle-like shadows in the pericardium and lung. They were diagnosed as aberrant needles, and surgically removed. The intrapulmonary aberrant needle was removed with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Aberrant needle in pericardium or lung should be removed surgically, because it is very dangerous. Intraoperative chest X-ray is always necessary before closing the wound to avoid leaving the residual fragments.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnostic imaging
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Lung* / surgery
  • Monitoring, Intraoperative
  • Needles
  • Pericardium* / surgery
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Schizophrenia*
  • Suicide, Attempted*
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed