Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54(4): 286-288
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-923804
Short Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Successful Surgical Treatment of a Combined Abdominal and Thoracic Impalement Injury

A. Friedl1 , O.-W. Mensah1 , F. Eder2 , F. Meyer2 , Z. Halloul2 , O. Effenberger3 , K. Fichtler4 , H. Lippert2 , C. Huth1
  • 1Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 2Department of General, Abdominal, and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
  • 4Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received August 14, 2005

Publication Date:
02 June 2006 (online)

Abstract

Accidents do occur during the performance of different domestic chores in the garden. The resulting injuries can lead to serious morbidity and, in some cases, they can be fatal. We present a case of trauma, in a 69-year old man, caused by a fall from a tree on a vertical metal rod in his garden. The rod entered the abdominolumbal region on the right side making an exit above the left clavicle. On arrival, he was in a stable circulatory condition. A chest X-ray (Fig. [4]), thoracic and abdominal sonography followed by chest and abdominal CT scan (Figs. [1] - [3], [5]) were performed and they showed no severe injury of the heart, lung, bronchi, liver and right kidney. He underwent an emergent surgical intervention by a team of cardiothoracic, vascular and abdominal surgeons. Longitudinal sternotomy and laparotomy allowed us to remove the metal rod carefully with no severe signs of injuries of abdominal and thoracic organs. There were no surgical postoperative complications.

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MD Andrea Friedl

Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery
University Hospital

Leipziger Strasse 44

31920 Magdeburg

Germany

Email: andrea.friedl@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de