Citation

Simstein NL. Int. Surg. 1999; 84(4): 361-362.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Forsyth Memorial Hospital, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Minerva Medica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10667818

Abstract

Foreign bodies of the pericardium are rare and they are associated most commonly with significant trauma. The diagnosis of a pericardial foreign body can be difficult. One must distinguish between foreign matter in the cardiac chamber or free-floating in the mediastinum. Serial chest X-rays and fluoroscopy were most helpful to us. Neither CT scan nor an echocardiogram were particularly helpful. To prevent pericarditis, either sterile or non-sterile, with potential for other significant complications, removal of a pericardial foreign body is always indicated.

Language: en