Multidisciplinary Rescue Airway Management in a Self-Inflicted Penetrating Neck Injury: A Case Report
Self-inflicted penetrating neck injury is a rare but highly lethal form of suicide attempt, often resulting in complex injuries to the upper airway and digestive tract. We report a case of a man in his 50s presenting with a complete supraglottic laryngeal and partial pharyngeal transection due to self-inflicted stab wounds. The initial assessment took place in a non-tertiary hospital, and an emergency airway access was achieved via tracheal intubation through the open cervical wound, followed by transfer to a level I trauma center and urgent surgical repair. A multidisciplinary team involving anesthesiology, intensive care, general surgery, and otorhinolaryngology ensured a favorable outcome. This case highlights the need for adaptable airway strategies and multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of traumatic airway disruption.
Authors
- Fátima Costa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8276-3874)
- Ana Rita Góis
- Kateryna Samalyuk
Institutions
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Coimbra (PT)
- University of Coimbra (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-12-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.99111
- Primary Topic
- Trauma Management and Diagnosis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00