There is, at present, little literature to guide in the management of a patient with a gunshot wound to the chest with normal vital signs, physical examination and a normal chest X-ray. Such patients (357) were followed up as outpatients at 48 h, then 1 and 3 mo. No major complications developed. Minor complications included chronic wound pain, chronic wound swelling and the uncomfortable sensation of being able to palpate one''s own subcutaneous bullet. The wound infection rate was only 1.5% with or without antibiotics, showing that porphylactic antibiotics are probably not warranted if good surgical wound care is practiced. Patients with chest gunshot wounds with norma vital signs, physical examinations and normal X-rays can be reasonably treated as outpatients after 4 h of observation, at the physician''s discretion.