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Myocardial perforation by a stick foreign body in a dog
Author(s) -
Pelosi Augusta,
Hauptman Joseph G.,
Eyster George E.,
Beal Matthew W.,
Anderson Lorel K.,
Olivier N. Bari
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2008.00293.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thoracotomy , foreign body , pericardium , intracardiac injection , ventricle , thoracic cavity , sternum , perforation , surgery , pericardial cavity , cardiology , metallurgy , punching , materials science
Objective: To report a case of myocardial perforation by a stick foreign body in a dog. Case Summary: A 3‐year‐old castrated male Labrador Retriever was examined because of a puncture wound seen after an unsupervised run in the woods. The wound was suspected to penetrate into the thoracic cavity on the basis of physical exam and radiographs. Uniform ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and junctional beats were noted on electrocardiogram (ECG). Thoracotomy was performed and a 6‐cm wooden stick was seen protruding from the right ventricle through the pericardium toward the sternum. The stick was removed while purse string sutures were tied around the resultant myocardial defect. Follow‐up echocardiography revealed intact intracardiac structures. VPCs were treated with lidocaine and resolved completely within 24 hours of presentation. New or Unique Information Provided: Thoracic trauma can result in myocardial injury; penetration into the myocardium represents a life‐threatening situation for the emergency clinician. Cardiac injury should be included in the differential diagnoses of penetrating thoracic foreign bodies.