Extraction of pericardium retained missile

Abstract

Penetrating precordial trauma is a highly-mortality condition that requires a trained multidisciplinary team to guide its management. The context of the hemodynamically unstable patient is well understood and accepted. However, there is a knowledge gap when a hemodynamically stable patients present with a missile retained in cardiac structures; Currently, there are no guidelines on the surgical indication or surgical approach. These continue to be variable. We present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a gunshot chest trauma, hemodynamically stable with a missile retained in the pericardial sac that underwent videothoracoscopy with successful extraction. In addition, we made a review of the literature of cases with similar characteristics reported in recent years.