| Therapeutic
intervention
Median sternotomy was then carried out under general anesthesia and
endotracheal intubation. A large hematoma was found on the pericardium
upon opening. The pericardium was incised, and the clot along with a
considerable volume of blood was drained. The syringe needle (Figure
4,5) was discovered within the right ventricle. The entry point of the
needle was identified as originating from the left pleural cavity into
the pericardial cavity; subsequently, the needle was extracted (Figure
6) manually, without employing a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, from
the heart, and the bleeding site was secured utilizing a suture.
Following the placement of a drain in both the left pleural and
pericardial spaces, the chest was closed and transported to the
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in stable condition. The patient was released
after six days under psychiatric care and medication, including
haloperidol, lorazepam, amitriptyline, imipramine, and antibiotics.