Medicaltalks almost 8 years ago

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Shot to the heart!

A complex self-inflicted gunshot cardiac injury in a schizophrenic patient who discontinued antipsychotic medications. The patient sustained a right ventricle and right atrium free wall gun shot injury. She presented with a moderate hemopericardium (bleeding into the pericardial sac surrounding the heart) and huge right hemothorax (shown on the CT scan). She underwent emergent surgery and bicaval cannulation for extracorporeal circulation (i.e. cardiopulmonary bypass) was performed in order to stop the heart and surgically treat the injury. Luckily, post-operation was uneventful and she returned back to her medications, fully compliant.