Retrograde venous bullet embolism into renal vein

Abstract

The unpredictable nature and behaviour of bullet emboli can pose unique diagnostic and management challenges, relatedto the a bsence of exit wounds  or variable trajectories. However, embolisation into the vascular system is an extremely unusual occurrence, with fewer than 200 such cases  described since 1900. Given the relative paucity of such literature reports, it is not surprising that guidelines for the optimal management of some of  these emboli are neither clear cut, nor universally accepted. We report the second case of retrograde venous bullet embolism to the right renal vein  following a gunshot injury to the right chest and the surgical solution.