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Module 4: Thoracic Injuries

Segment 1: Firearm Injuries

References labeled PEDS contain a pediatric element or primary focus.

Topic: Firearm/Penetrating injuries

  • Bustamante ND, Macias-Konstantopoulos WL. Retained lumbar bullet: A case report of chronic lead toxicity and review of the literature. J Emerg Med. 2016;51(1):45-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2016.02.025 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27071317/.
  • Choi JH, Uhm JS, Lee SE, et al. Constrictive pericarditis long after a gunshot wound. Korean Circ J. 2015;45(4):333-6. doi: 10.4070/kcj.2015.45.4.333 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26240588/.
  • Coon T, Miller M, Shirazi F, et al. Lead toxicity in a 14-year-old female with retained bullet fragments. Pediatrics. 2006;117(1):227-30. doi:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16396885/. PEDS
  • DeMario VM, Sikorski RA, Efron DT, et al. Blood utilization and mortality in victims of gun violence. Transfusion. 2018;58(10):2326-2334. doi: 10.1111/trf.14925 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30209804/.
  • Dienstknecht T, Horst K, Sellei RM, et al. Indications for bullet removal: overview of the literature, and clinical practice guidelines for European trauma surgeons. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2012;38(2):89-93. doi: 10.1007/s00068-011-0170-x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26815824/.
  • Filosso PL, Donati G, Agaccio G, et al. Distant endoarterial bullet migration following penetrating chest injury. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003;23(2):242. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(02)00752-2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12559353/.
  • Grahame A, Harding M. Knife crime in England and Wales. 2021. House of Commons Library. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04304/SN04304.pdf.
  • Hatfield SA, Medina S, Gorman E, et al. A decade of firearm injuries: Have we improved? J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2024;97(2):213-219. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000004249 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38227677/.
  • Jo C, Steed MB, Perciaccante VJ. Bullet embolus to the pulmonary artery after gunshot wound to the face: case report and review of literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010;68(3):504-7. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2009.04.052 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19926380/.
  • Jones DR, Guy JS, Mill MR, et al. Retrograde arterial bullet embolus to the coronary artery: case report. J Trauma. 1999;46(6):1135-6. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199906000-00034 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10372641/.
  • Keele KL, Gilbert PM, Aquisto TM, et al. Bullet embolus to the thoracic aorta with successful endovascular snare retrieval. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2010;21(1):157-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2009.09.007 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19944625/.
  • Lorenzo M, Coimbra R, Croft CA, et al. Western Trauma Association critical decisions in trauma: Penetrating thoracic injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026;100(3):484-492. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000004853 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41417725/.
  • Mahan ST, Murray MM, Woolf AD, et al. Increased blood lead levels in an adolescent girl from a retained bullet. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(12):2726-9. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.F.00074 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17142424/. PEDS
  • Miller M, Fischer S, Azrael D. Firearm acquisition and new exposure to household firearms after the initial pandemic purchasing surge: Results from the 2024 National Firearms Survey. Ann Intern Med. 2026;doi: 10.7326/annals-25-05181 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41839035/.
  • Mollberg NM, Tabachnick D, Lin FJ, et al. Age-associated impact on presentation and outcome for penetrating thoracic trauma in the adult and pediatric patient populations. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014;76(2):273-7; discussion 277-8. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000000090 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24458033/. PEDS
  • O’Connor ZT, Green A, Rolle ML, et al. Surgical and critical care resource utilization after firearm injury: An age-based analysis. J Surg Res. 2025;314:536-543. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.07.058 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40857864/.
  • Raghavendran K, Evans JT, Raghavendran K, et al. Bullet migration within the inferior vena cava. South Med J. 2003;96(1):96-8. doi: 10.1097/01.SMJ.0000047043.00761.88 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12602728/.
  • Rehm C, Alspaugh JP, Sherman R. Bullet embolus to the right hepatic vein after a gunshot wound to the heart and its percutaneous retrieval. J Trauma. 1988;28(5):719-20. doi: 10.1097/00005373-198805000-00035 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3285019/.
  • Riehl JT, Sassoon A, Connolly K, et al. Retained bullet removal in civilian pelvis and extremity gunshot injuries: a systematic review. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013;471(12):3956-3960. doi: 10.1007/s11999-013-3260-8 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23982410.
  • Taghavi S, Chang G, Maher Z, et al. Mode of transport and prehospital interventions in urban penetrating trauma: A systematic review and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026;100(1):136-146. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000004796 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41114708/.
  • Zahid I, Rahim Khan HA, Irfan O, et al. Retrograde bullet migration from inferior vena cava into right common iliac vein following gunshot: A case report. J Pak Med Assoc. 2016;66(12):1673-1675. doi: 10.1016/j.case.2017.10.003 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28179710/.