[Cardiac metal foreign body: analysis of 21 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To improve early diagnosis and clinical treatment of metal foreign body in the heart.

METHODS

In 21 patients, case history, clinical manifestation, chest X-ray film, and echocardiograph were reviewed. 20 patients received operation: emergency exploration (13) and elective operation (7). Four patients were subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass. The other one was not operated on because of absence of symptoms and small foreign body. Foreign bodies mostly bullets, were usually located in the right ventricle. Ventricular fibrillation occurred in 3 patients during operation, two of them were resuscitated.

RESULTS

20 patients but one recovered, a mortality rate of 5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Early diagnosis, rapid management, and localization of foreign body are essential to the selection of treatment.