My nephew was shut in the thigh by police during a civil protest. A doctor trated his wound and closed the bullet wound, leaving the bullet inside the thigh. He said the bullet will eventually come out without further intervention and my nephew will be fine.
2007-02-11 15:47:19 · 17 answers · asked by ablaye 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
I guess so. The Dr should know.
2007-02-11 15:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by ஐ♥Gin♥ஐ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would get a second opinion.
Yes, the bullet may make it's way out. But in the mean time, his body will be trying to break it down, because it is a foreign object. So he will be absorbing all of the metals which is not good in the long run. It can cause many different other ailments, and cause a toxisity.
Plus the process of the bullet making its way out will be constantly uncomfortable. perhaps like a large pimple that has to get rid of the poison, it will not heal properly until the bullet is out.
All around I would say it is best to get it out, ususally they do take it out, unless it is too close to a large blood vessel or something that would make it too dangerous to take it out.
Bottom line, get a second opinion or third and forth if you have too.
2007-02-11 15:54:17 · answer #2 · answered by karen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually it is a good idea to remove foreign objects such as a bullet from a person for it can lead to problems further in the future, the only time I would think of that removing a bullet isn't done is when the opperation is a greater risk than the bullet is (such as if it is close to the spinal cord or heart)
2007-02-11 15:56:28 · answer #3 · answered by heavy_cow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i work in a trauma unit at a major hospital in my state and bullets are left in our patients alot-especially if it's not causing any damage.
the risk of infection could be far worse for your nephew if the bullet was taken out. the body has ways of removing things that shouldn't be there on it's own (that's what the dr was referring to).
alot of times the bullet will be left in to prevent further damage. for example-we had a patient that came in with a gunshot wound and the bullet ended up lodged against his spinal cord. if the bullet would have been removed-the patient would have been paralyzed for life. the bullet was sitting in such a way that it was preventing the patient from becoming paralyzed so it was left in.
more than likely it was a trauma dr that was taking care of your nephew and they are highly specialized professionals-if the bullet needed to be removed-he would have done so
hope he feels better soon!!
2007-02-11 16:21:12 · answer #4 · answered by prncessang228 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I'm sorry the police in your country shot your nephew.
Second, sometimes doctors leave the bullet in the patients body because it would cause too much trauma to try and remove it. I'm sure your nephew will be fine once his wound heals!
2007-02-11 15:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should get another medical opinion on this from another doctor. Generally, they only leave a bullet in when taking it out might cause more harm then leaving it in. And that is usually around the spine or brain.
2007-02-11 15:51:58 · answer #6 · answered by MiddleAgeVet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on te bullet type, and the wound it made. Lots of people are walking around with bullets still in their bodies and are doing well.
2007-02-11 15:55:28 · answer #7 · answered by afreshpath_admin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like a complete load of rubbish to me - I would definitely seek a second opinion - the body is not going to digest metal - he could an infection as the body's defences tries to fight against it as it may have harmful bacteria on it and he might also get blood poisoning or it could move and interfere with organs in his body - but an infection would be my first concern - in his thigh - where does that idiot doctor think the bullet is going to go - out of his bum ?!!!
2007-02-11 16:01:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes removing the bullet causes more problems than leaving it there. In this case, it will probably just work it's way out. Yes it's ok.
2007-02-11 15:52:06 · answer #9 · answered by RadTech - BAS RT(R)(ARRT) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think leaveing forign objects in the body are a good idea, go to another doctor and get a second opinon.
2007-02-11 15:49:51 · answer #10 · answered by Dylan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep... plenty of war veterans have bullets and shrapnell all through them. Medically if it was going to cause a problem the doctors would have removed it.
2007-02-11 15:50:18 · answer #11 · answered by JT 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋