“Gunshot Wound” … Case Conclusion

The Conclusion Is…

The patient was taken to the operating room immediately. On visual inspection during thoracotomy, he was found to have a diaphragmatic injury. He required a left-lower-lobe resection but did not have any other intra-abdominal injuries, and he recovered slowly over several weeks.

Congratulations to Dr. Arellano, Dr. Arosemena, Dr. Saltzberg, Dr. Soliman, and Dr. Tsukerman — this week’s winners of Emergency Medicine Practice’s “Ballistic Injuries In The Emergency Department!” For a discussion of the emergency department (ED) management of gunshot wounds to the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and extremities, read this issue.