Our Experience with Cut Throat Injury Cases in a Rural Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Cut throat injuries are one of the most challenging surgical emergencies encountered by Ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeons. If not treated in time, they may lead to death. Prevention of mortality depends on immediate resuscitation by securing the airway by tracheostomy or intubation, prompt control of bleeding, and wound closure. Aims and Objectives: Our study was conducted to observe and analyze: 1. The sociodemographic profile of cut throat injury patients admitted in our hospital. 2. The modes of cut throat injury cases admitted in our hospital. 3. Anatomical region and depth of the cut throat injury patients admitted in our hospital. 4. Treatment of cut throat injury patients given at our hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study of about 25 cases of cut throat injury presented to the emergency department in our tertiary care hospital situated in the rural area of Tamilnadu (India), between June 2021 and September 2022. Cut throat injury patients were managed by multidisciplinary approach headed by the ENT team. Results: In our study, 72% were males and 28% were females. The peak age of incidence is fourth decade (48%). People with lower socioeconomic status were affected more (40%). Eighty percent of the patients had Zone II injuries. Seventy-six percent of cases presented with active bleeding and 60% of cases came with breathing difficulty. The most common cause of cut throat injury had been found to be suicidal (52%). Sixty percent had laryngeal injuries. Seventy-two percent of the cases were managed with tracheostomy. Conclusion: Our study found that the majority of cut throat injury patients were males of age between 30 years to 40 years from poor socioeconomic status. Social involvement and political motivation, poverty reduction, individual awareness, increase in economic growth along with literacy rate will prevent the cut throat injuries. Early and improved proper management will reduce the mortality and morbidity.