Abdominal Aorta Bullet Embolism: Presentation and Management

Abstract

Penetrating cardiac injury (PCI) secondary to a gunshot wound presents with several complications and a mortality rate of 94% before reaching the hospital. Current literature search reveals that embolism of bullet fragments after gunshot wounds are exceptionally rare. Additionally, no reported case was found regarding bullet embolism following left atrium penetration at the time of this case report. This case describes a 34-year-old male who presented to a level I trauma center after sustaining a gunshot wound to the posterior torso. Imaging demonstrated several fragments in the mid-thoracic region in addition to the primary bullet fragment located within the aorta at the bifurcation of the iliac arteries likely due to left atrial penetration and subsequent embolization.