Radial artery pellet embolism a case report

Abstract

A fifty-four-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department with a gunshot injury in his arm, caused by pellets. Surgical exploration showed injury to the brachial artery, which was then repaired with a saphenous vein graft. Conservative treatment was planned for associated nerve injuries. After arterial flow began, two pellet-like solid bodies were palpated in the radial artery trace at the wrist level and the pellets were removed from the lumen of the artery. Ten days after surgery, the patient had profuse bleeding in the arm. On exploration, partial necrosis was detected in the saphenous vein graft and primary repair was performed. H o w e v e r, on the 19th day, the bleeding recurred and increased necrosis and rupture of the artery, 2-3 cm in size, were detected. Arterial repair was repeated with another saphenous vein graft from the other limb. The patient returned to normal daily activities nine months after the injury, with slight cold intolerance. Clinical examination and Doppler studies did not show any signs of vascular deficiency. Arterial or venous pellet embolism should be included in the evaluation of patients with gunshot injuries.