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The Management of Penetrating Neck Injuries

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Reconstructing the War Injured Patient

Abstract

The management of penetrating neck injuries remains most challenging and may vary depending on the zone involved and the patient stability. Maintaining the airways and breathing followed by control of bleeding are essential. Foley balloon tamponade of bleeding neck wounds can prevent exsanguination if external pressure was not adequate to control the bleeding. In stable patients with injury to zones 1 and 3, evaluation with CT angiography, trachea-bronchoscopy, and upper endoscopy are essential steps in the management. This can also be applied to stable patients with zone 2 injury, although routine exploration is also an acceptable approach, depending on the local resources available. Identified carotid injuries are best repaired except in the comatose, unstable patient where ligation may be the only alternative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Makdissi Street, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon

    Mohammad Rachad Wehbe M.D. & Jamal J. Hoballah M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.

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  1. Mohammad Rachad Wehbe M.D.
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  2. Jamal J. Hoballah M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S.
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Correspondence to Jamal J. Hoballah M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Ghassan Soleiman Abu-Sittah

  2. Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jamal J. Hoballah

  3. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Centre-Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon

    Joseph Bakhach

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Wehbe, M.R., Hoballah, J.J. (2017). The Management of Penetrating Neck Injuries. In: Abu-Sittah, G., Hoballah, J., Bakhach, J. (eds) Reconstructing the War Injured Patient. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56887-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56887-4_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56885-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56887-4

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