Search

A foreign body such as a needle in the heart can be life-threatening. While this may occur accidentally, needles may be inserted into the body by psychiatric patients or in cases involving domestic violence. A needle can migrate through the thorax toward the heart. In drug users, needles may also reach the right ventricle via the peripheral veins. Cardiac injury can occur via the esophagus after swallowing a needle. The clinical outcome may vary from an asymptomatic situation to tamponade or shock, depending on how severely the cardiac structures are affected. In injuries involving the thorax, pneumothorax may cause sudden shortness of breath. Here, we report the case of a 34-year-old male prison inmate who accidentally lodged a pin in his left ventricle while asleep. As he has refused surgery, it was decided to follow the patient carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The etiology, diagnosis and treatment options of patients with moderate-large volume pericardial effusions were evaluated, retrospectively. Patients and methods: 104 patients with pericardial effusion were enrolled into the study (54 male, 50 female, mean age of 53±18 years, ranged from 14 to 85 years). The clinical features, laboratory tests and trans-thoracic echocardiography findings of the patients were recorded. Both diagnostic and therapeutic aimed pericardiocentesis procedures were performed via subxiphioid route and glucose, total protein, cholosterol, lactic dehydrogenase levels, adenosine deaminase activity, polymerase chain reaction for tuberculosis, cytological, microbiological examinations and cultures were obtained from pericardial fluid. Results: By transthoracic echocardiography, 70 patients (67.3%) had large volume and 34 patients had moderate volume pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was performed to a total of 46 patients and pericardial fluid was exudate in 22 patients (47.8%) and transudate in 24 patients (52.2%). The most common cause of effusion was idiopathic and the other causes were neoplasia, congestive heart failure and tuberculosis, respectively. Conclusion: The main problem in pericardial effusion is to find the etiology for clinicians. Carefully taken medical story, detailed physical examination and pericardiocentesis procedure if needed will help us to diagnose the disease and to start the treatment for the specific etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]