An Unusual Presentation of a Cardiac Foreign Body in a Pediatric Patient

A Forgotten Bulldog Clamp during a Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

The Article Abstract is not available.  

Mitral valve regurgitation and endocarditis triggered by a needle

BACKGROUND

Cardiac foreign bodies are extremely rare in clinical patients, especially when foreign bodies damage the internal structure of the heart coincidentally after they penetrate the heart.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we report the case of a two-year-old girl whose heart was penetrated by a needle, which triggered mitral valve regurgitation and endocarditis. After a comprehensive inspection, accurate judgment and surgical preparation, we removed the needle and repaired her mitral valve. Fortunately, she recovered postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

From this case, we can know that when cardiac foreign bodies are suspected, ultrasound is an important inspection method. Moreover, the approaches for handling each such case are different depending on the associated injuries.

A case report of an unusual left atrial mass

Background

Cardiac foreign bodies (FBs) are rare findings that may present as cardiac masses initially. Here, we present an exceptional and rare case of a hypodermic needle FB that transmigrated to the left atrium and presented as a left atrial mass.

Case summary

A 28-year-old woman with multiple psychiatric disorders including intentional FB ingestion and self-inflicting injuries presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and chest pain that radiated to the left arm and face for 2 weeks. An echocardiogram was performed revealing a left atrial mass concerning for myxoma. During the surgical removal of the mass, a hypodermic needle was found attached to the roof of the left atrium surrounded by thrombotic and fibrotic tissue, which was confirmed by pathology.

Discussion

Cardiac FBs are caused generally by penetrating wounds from direct trauma. Fewer cases have been reported regarding cardiac FB caused by ingestion from migration of the object to the heart. Signs and symptoms for cardiac FB may mimic those of cardiac masses. Cardiac FBs often require surgical intervention to avoid complications.