Penetrating Neck Trauma: Challenges to Anaesthesiologist

Abstract

in younger population because multiple vital structures are vulnerable to injuries in the small, confined, and unprotected area. It may involve various structures in neck including soft tissues, cartilages, bones, larynx, trachea, oesophagus, pharynx, major blood vessels and important nerves. Penetrating neck trauma may present with an acute or worsening respiratory distress, airway compromise by blood or secretions, surgical emphysema, tracheal deviation secondary to hematoma, acute blood loss when associated with injury to major blood vessels like jugular and carotid, aspiration, hypoxemia and a decreasing level of consciousness [1]. These injuries may be of varying etiology like suicidal, homicidal, accidental, warfare & of varying patterns like blunt, lacerating, incised and penetrating. Mechanism of injury is very important to understand the extent of damage which in turn helps in better management of shock, hypoxemia or aspiration.