Case report: Zone 3 gunshot wound to the left neck treated with combined Foley catheter balloon tamponade and interventional radiology stent placement

In the trauma and military setting, catheter balloon tamponade has been successfully used as an effective tool for the management of exsanguination secondary to penetrating injuries. This maneuver may improve outcomes in patients with uncontrolled bleeding, particularly in penetrating neck injuries (PNI), thorax, axillae, and groin. We describe a case of a stab wound to the left neck that led to surgical left neck exploration utilizing Foley catheter balloon tamponade (FCBT) for initial control of massive hemorrhage and a subsequent interventional radiology (IR) endovascular stent placement for a zone 3 internal carotid artery injury.