TITLE:
Anesthetic Management of Neck Trauma with Traumatized Airway: A Case Report and Review
AUTHORS:
Pou Fong Chan, Hung Ping Li, Fai Leong
KEYWORDS:
Neck Trauma, Traumatized Airway, Neck Penetrating Injury, Airway Management, Surgical Airway
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.14 No.11,
November
13,
2024
ABSTRACT: Neck trauma with a traumatized airway can be challenging for airway management, as the neck is a vital structure. Case Report: We are reporting on a 33-year-old male worker who suffered an industrial accident. A steel cord severely hit his neck. He was brought to our ER immediately. Upon arrival, he was conscious with stable vital signs. A physical examination revealed that his Adam’s apple was penetrated, and the adjacent soft tissue and structures were visible. A CT scan showed an anterior and left lateral neck penetrating injury with an open wound, exposure of the thyroid cartilage, a left thyroid cartilage fracture, and pneumoderma. He was urgently taken to the operating theater for airway stabilization and underwent six hours of exploration of the laryngopharyngeal cavity and closure of the laryngopharyngeal defect. He was then sent to the ICU. After two months in the hospital, he regularly follows up in the outpatient department. Conclusion: Effective decision-making for neck trauma with a compromised airway is crucial to ensure the patient’s safety.