Cut throat injuries at a tertiary referral hospital in guwahati: a review of 165 cases

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted in our hospital to describe the etiology, patterns and treatment outcome of these injuries.Methodology:A combined retrospective and prospective study of 165 cases of cut throat injury patients managed at a tertiary hospital in Guwahati between august 2013 to august 2015. Results:Age varied from 6 years to 80 years. Male tofemale ratio was 6.17:1. Amongst them 80 cases (48.48%)were homicidal ; 66 cases (40%) were suicidal; 19 cases (11.51%) were accidental of which 12 cases were due to road traffic accident and 7 were due to fall. The majority of injuries were in Zone II accounting for 89.09% of casesout of which 43 cases (26.06%) had laryngeal injury. Emergency tracheostomy was done in 46 cases (27.87%). An average hospital stay for most of the patients was less than 3 weeks.3 victims (1.81%) died due to haemorrhage and septicaemia. Conclusion: Cut throat injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among young adult males in our setting. Social commitment political motivation, decreasein the poverty, individual awareness, increase in economic growth, and literacy rate will prevent cut throat injuries. Early and improved management will reduce the mortality and morbidity.