Survival After Pediatric Emergency Department Thoracotomy Following an Abdominal Gunshot Wound

Abstract

We report the case of a 3-year-old male who presented in cardiac arrest with a self-inflicted gunshot wound (GSW) to the abdomen. Upon arrival by private vehicle to our hospital, an emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) was performed in addition to standard resuscitative efforts. Despite prolonged initial hypotension, multiple episodes of cardiac arrest, and several postsurgical complications, the patient was eventually discharged from the hospital with no residual neurological deficits.