Paradoxical embolism of a shotgun pellet.

Paradoxical embolism of a projectile from the venous to arterial system is a rare occurrence, which can cause diagnostic confusion. We present a case of venous embolism of a shotgun pellet from the left upper extremity to the noncoronary sinus of the aortic valve across a secundum-type atrial septal defect. Prevention of distal embolism of the pellet was presumably a result of its containment by flow vortices created within the sinuses of Valsalva.