Cardiac stab injury by a bodkin.

A 46-year-old male had a cardiac stab injury resulting in cardiac tamponade as a result of a suicide attempt using a bodkin, a sharply pointed instrument for making holes. The patient was transferred to our hospital about 12 hours after the injury. Pericardiotomy at the emergency operation revealed the penetration of the right ventricle and the hole was repaired following removal of the bodkin. Postoperative course was uneventful.