The silent penetrating cardiac injury: a case of a self-modified board marker in the right ventricle
- Author:
Jae Chol YOON
;
Tae Yun KIM
;
Taeuk HA
;
So Eun KIM
- Publication Type:Case Report
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2026;37(1):63-66
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Penetrating cardiac foreign body injuries are infrequent but potentially life-threatening occurrences. This paper presents a brief case report of a patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with self-inflicted injuries. A 14-cm cylindrical hollow stick was embedded into his right ventricle. Remarkably, the patient remained hemodynamically stable and showed no significant symptoms. The clinical manifestations of penetrating cardiac foreign body injuries may vary from a stable hemodynamic condition to a rapid cardiovascular collapse. A penetrating cardiac foreign body is a rare traumatic injury encountered in the ED. Nevertheless, an awareness of this case is essential because it provides insights into the diversity of presentations of cardiac foreign body injuries. Although these injuries often manifest with severe symptoms such as cardiac tamponade, massive hemothorax, or even cardiac arrest, this case shows that patients may remain hemodynamically stable and asymptomatic, making a diagnosis challenging.
