Juniper Publishers Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Therapy

JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Introduction A 70-year-old male with arterial hypertension presented to the emergency department with a 3-week history of chest pain. An urgent echocardiography revealed a severe pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. Emergent pericardiocentesis is performed obtaining a hematic fluid. Both cardiac rupture and ascending aortic dissection were discarded by contrast echocardiography and thoracic aorta angiography respectively. Biochemical analysis showed a hematic fluid with normal microbiological results. Cytology analysis of the pericardial fluid presented abundant cellularity constituted by reactive mesothelium (exuberant mesothelium) and moderate acute infiltrate. CEA and CA 15.3 were high, with negative virus serology and normal autoimmunity tests. There was no evidence of tumor pathology in thoracoabdominal CT. The patient progressed favorably, but after drainage removal, a ...

JUNIPER PUBLISHERS-OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract Introduction: Penetrating cardiac injuries are life-threatening conditions that require urgent surgical intervention, and often associated with a high mortality rates. Work site injuries by nail-gun are present, and although usually involve the limbs, penetrating cardiac injuries can occur. Case presentation: We report a case of a 21 years old carpenter who accidentally shot himself with a nail gun. An emergent chest computed tomography was done and revealed a nail penetrating the right ventricle with massive haemopericardium. Median sternotomy was performed, followed by nail removal and repair of the right ventricular wound. He had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was discharged 7 days postoperatively. Conclusion: Cardiac nail gun injuries are rare conditions but fatal. They require emergent convenient surgery, and timing of intervention should be considered to...