SURGICAL AND ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF A CERVICAL PENETRATING WOUND: A CASE REPORT WITH LITERATURE REVIEW

Cervical penetrating injuries have the potential to negatively impact the essential and practical outlook for the injured person. The difficulties of handling emergencies and subsequent corrective procedures call for a comprehensive understanding of the seriousness of the situation, life-saving measures, and surgical reconstruction techniques. We report the case of a 24-year-old male who presented with a penetrating neck injury. It was a postero-lateral stab wound near the cervical spine. CT angiography confirmed the knife's path through muscles without vascular injury or contrast leakage. The patient underwent successful surgical exploration with thorough preoperative preparation and advanced anesthetic management. Management of penetrating neck injuries has evolved from routine exploration to a selective approach utilizing cervico-thoracic CT angiography, which reduces unnecessary procedures and improves outcomes. The neck is divided into three zones for assessment: Zone I (supraclavicular to cricoid), Zone II (cricoid to mandible), and Zone III (mandible to skull base).