Revista do Hospital das Clínicas
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Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo · Sep 1998
Clinical Trial[Penetrating trauma of the neck: prospective study of 53 cases].
The treatment of penetrating injuries of the neck is still controversial nowadays, especially when there is doubt concerning the existence of any anatomic structure lesion. The delay to indicate surgical cervical exploration may predispose the patient to have serious sequels when the esophagus or the trachea are injured. The infection which may occur in this eventuality progresses rapidly to the mediastinum, determining the patient's death. ⋯ Trauma indexes correlated with patients' clinical evolution. 3. In cases when there was doubt about the effective presence of injuries, complementary digestive and respiratory evaluations were indicated. These exams contributed for reducing the rate of unnecessary surgical explorations.