A shrapnel migration from a peripheral vein to the right ventricle: case report

Even shrapnel that penetrates through the hand or forearm may migrate to the heart. In this case, following a multidisciplinary discussion, a conservative approach was recommended based on the following condition: lack of symptoms, small size of the foreign body, no obstruction of venous effluent, low risk of significant embolization to the pulmonary vasculature, absence of fever or endocarditis, no current evidence or risk of valve dysfunction, and no myocardial irritation indicated by arrhythmia. The patient was instructed to avoid magnetic resonance imaging scans.