Unusual case of self-inflicted thoracic knife wounds with five knives embedded in the left thoracic cavity

Abstract

Suicide by chest stabbing is a rare cause of penetrating chest trauma. We hereby report a unique case of suicide attempt with multiple thoracic stab wounds and five embedded knives. Although the long kitchen knives were entirely embedded into the left hemithorax no fatal injury occurred. Emergency thoracotomy was performed to remove the knives and repair the lung laceration. Uneventful recovery followed.

Intrathoracic metallic foreign bodie in adult

“…La prise en charge commence d'abord par une éva-luation complète du patient en recherchant un saignement et ou une infection associée pouvant rapidement engager le pronostic vital. Il faut aussi minutieusement rechercher la présence des éclats d'os, des vêtements et d'autres débris souvent non radio opaques, entraînés dans le même temps que le corps étranger et pouvant se manifester secondairement par un tableau clinique dramatique [6][7][8]. …”

Unusual bilateral pneumothoraces due to zone I neck stab wound

“…[1][2][3] Pneumothorax occurs in 15-20% of patients who suffer blunt trauma, 3 but the probability of bilateral pneumothorax occurring in association with thoracic trauma and spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare event. 3 Traumatic bilateral pneumothorax could occur due to penetrating objects such as stab or acupuncture needles.…”

An unusual case of suicide by sharp force

“…A huge number of unusual suicides by sharp force have been reported in forensic literature. Generally the strangeness resides in the great number of self-inflicted wounds [11,13], in their localization [11,14], in the instruments used (unusual or multiple instruments) [15][16][17][18] or in the manner in which the suicide is planned and executed [2,19,20].…”