Heart-Saving Bullet Extraction by Frontline Military Doctors

Military doctors at the Central Military Clinical Hospital named after AV Vishnevsky carried out a remarkable surgical mission to remove a bullet lodged in a soldier’s heart, a procedure performed under combat conditions. This account was confirmed by officials from the Ministry of Defense. The operation was led by Alexander Lishchuk, who heads the Center for Cardiac Surgery, and his team faced a challenging scenario where the bullet had penetrated the heart during active duty. The patient, who arrived from the front lines, underwent rapid evaluation and was taken directly to the operating room on the same day the initial assessment was completed. The medical team proceeded without delay, prioritizing life-saving intervention and cautious cardiothoracic management. The surgeon noted that the bullet had become embedded in the left ventricle and adhered to the pericardium, with a portion of the left ventricular tissue ruptured. The path of the projectile also traversed the left lung. Remarkably, the bullet did not strike nearby vital structures, and the soldier survived the encounter with death-defying odds. In reflecting on the outcome, the physician stated that once the foreign body was removed, the patient would have a clear path to recovery and resume official duties in due course. The assurance came as part of a broader assessment of the patient’s prospects for rehabilitation and return to combat readiness. The operation took place in a state-of-the-art hybrid operating room, a facility unique to Vishnevsky Central Military Clinical Hospital. This room is equipped with an integrated set of advanced devices that enable multiple procedures of varying complexity to be performed sequentially or in parallel, with specialists from several medical disciplines collaborating in real time to optimize outcomes. The front-line sergeant was reportedly under fire when he raised his arm, and a sniper shot pierced the left chest area, crossing the tissues of his bulletproof vest, according to Lishchuk. In a subsequent update, the physician observed that cardiac function had improved and that follow-up studies were favorable; the patient was expected to begin walking the following day. The medical team, renowned for its experience in high-stakes environments, has already performed more than a hundred similar operations to extract bullets and shrapnel from the heart in combat settings, underscoring a sustained capability in complex thoracic interventions in the field. These performances are part of a broader effort by frontline military surgeons to save lives and restore function under demanding circumstances. Independent commentary from medical authorities in the Donetsk region noted that teams within the local cardiovascular system have successfully removed projectiles from beating hearts in other high-risk scenarios, illustrating the broader expertise within the regional medical network and reinforcing the overall message of resilience and professional proficiency in wartime care.