What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Purulent tamponade and retained intramyocardial needle (n=1). Intervention: Surgical removal and antibiotic therapy.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To report an unusual, life-threatening presentation of purulent cardiac tamponade resulting from an intravenous needle fragment migrating into the right ventricular wall.

May 16, 2026American Journal of Case ReportsOpen Access

Migrating Needle in Right Ventricle Wall With Purulent Tamponade

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Key result

Surgery and antibiotics resolve purulent pericardial tamponade from a migrating IV needle in the RV wall.

Why the study?

Migration of foreign bodies to the right ventricle is a very rare, potentially life-threatening condition with deceiving presentation.

Population

One 41-year-old man with a long-standing history of intravenous drug abuse

Design

Case report

Authors

AŻAnna ŻukGrochowski Hospital MSMaciej SałagajGrochowski Hospital SPSebastian PszonakGrochowski Hospital

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Successful surgical removal can resolve purulent tamponade from migrating needles; case reports leave open prevention strategies in intravenous drug users.

Key Points

To report an unusual, life-threatening presentation of purulent cardiac tamponade resulting from an intravenous needle fragment migrating into the right ventricular wall.
Assessed a 41-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug abuse presenting with chest pain, epigastric pain, and hematemesis using computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography.
Administered empiric followed by targeted antibiotic therapy and performed urgent cardiothoracic surgical exploration and foreign body extraction.
Diagnostic imaging identified pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade physiology and a thin metallic foreign body embedded within the right ventricular wall.
Surgical intervention revealed purulent pericardial tamponade and successfully extracted a 20-mm needle fragment embedded in the myocardium.
Microbiological cultures confirmed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, with uneventful recovery following surgical removal and pathogen-directed antibiotic treatment.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

Population

41-year-old man with a long-standing history of intravenous drug abuse presenting with a migrating needle in the right ventricle wall and purulent tamponade.

Intervention

Urgent cardiothoracic surgery for needle removal and antibiotic therapy

Outcome

Successful removal of the needle and postoperative recovery

Surgical removal and targeted antibiotic therapy successfully treated a rare case of purulent pericardial tamponade caused by a migrating needle in an intravenous drug user.

Limitations

No specific symptoms allow for early diagnosis of migrating foreign bodies in the heart.
Small objects can be easily missed by conventional transthoracic echocardiography.

Cite This Study

Żuk et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Purulent tamponade and retained intramyocardial needle (n=1). Surgical removal and antibiotic therapy was evaluated. Surgical removal and targeted antibiotic therapy successfully treated a purulent pericardial tamponade caused by a migrating intravenous needle embedded in the right ventricular wall.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a080a41a487c87a6a40c385 https://doi.org/10.12659/ajcr.953286

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Implication

Successful surgical removal can resolve purulent tamponade from migrating needles; case reports leave open prevention strategies in intravenous drug users.

Migrating Needle in Right Ventricle Wall With Purulent Tamponade

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Migrating Needle in Right Ventricle Wall With Purulent Tamponade

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider