Traumatic Common Carotid-jugular Fistula In A 6-year-old Child: Rare Cause Of Pulsatile Neck Mass

Abstract

Background: Traumatic common carotid artery-jugular vein fistula is an uncommon clinical entity that may follow penetrating neck injury. It is rarely seen in children. It usually presents with a pulsatile neck mass following a history of trauma to the neck. It may present with pulsatile mass, thrill on palpation and murmurs on auscultation. There may be a neurologic deficit, which may vary from hemiparesis to hemiplegia. We present a case of traumatic arteriovenous fistula that presented as pulsatile anterior neck swelling in a school child. Case Presentation: A 6 year old male child, presented with a 3 days history of penetrating gunshot injury to the right side of the neck, as a result of accidental discharge from a gun during a marriage ceremony. The patient said to have bled profusely from the site of injury and had transient loss of consciousness. Examination revealed a healing wound and a slight swelling on the right side of the neck just anterior to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The mass was pulsatile, with palpable thrill and bruit on auscultation. Colour doppler ultrasound demonstrated an abnormal connection with abnormal blood flow from the right common carotid artery to the right internal jugular vein. He was successfully treated surgically by neck exploration, excision of the fistula, and repair of defects in both vessels. Conclusions: Traumatic carotid-jugular fistula following gunshot injury is rarely seen in children. Guns should not be used or left unattended to in crowds so as to forestall future occurrence of accidental discharge that could lead to avoidable injuries. We recommended strict adherence to the rules and regulations guarding the use of firearms by civilians.