The Annals of thoracic surgery
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An air gun pellet cardiac injury, in which there was penetration through the right ventricle, interventricular septum, and anterior papillary muscle and ejection from the left ventricle, is described. The pellet embolus was removed from the left popliteal artery with restoration of flow. The particular implications of pellet embolization are discussed and contrasted with those of bullet embolism.
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Placement of a right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit (18- or 20-mm grafts) made of Gore-Tex without a prosthetic valve was undertaken in 6 patients ranging in age from 8 1/2 to 32 years. Three patients had tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, and the other 3 had transposition of the great vessels, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary obstruction. Pulmonary pressure was low in all patients. The technique for implantation of this valveless, noncrimped type of prosthesis is described.