Impalement injury involving both heart and lung: a rare case report

Abstract

Mediastinal impalement is uncommon and often fatal injury. Patients with this injury has to undergo operative intervention regardless of the hemodynamic status or associated injury. Few cases have been reported in which the patient recovered without any sequelae. We present a case of mediastinal impalement injury in which a metallic foreign body entered through the right 5 th intercostal space just lateral to sternal border. The patient became unconscious and then stabilised hemodynamically and neurologically .The foreign body penetrated pleura, lung of right side and right atrium. Right anterolateral thoracotomy was done for its retrieval. Follow-up of the patient was uneventful.