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Severe pain developed in the left hand of a 46-year-old woman after open heart surgery was performed to repair an atrial septal defect. It was initially thought that this pain was due to a thrombosis associated with a pressure-monitoring device in her left radial artery. Physical examination showed erythematous lesions, cyanosis, and ischemia of her left hand (Panel A). Radiographic findings revealed radiopaque particles (Panel B, black and white arrows) that were consistent with the presence of mercury in the soft tissues of her hand. The particles most likely came from the manometer used with the arterial line (a common . . . [Full Text of this Article] |