A CASE OF A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE PHARYNX

Authors:

Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the specific features of managing an isolated through-and-through gunshot wound of the neck involving the pharynx, with defects of the lateral pharyngeal walls and the epiglottis. Patient S., 48 years old, sustained a gunshot injury while wearing body armor and a helmet during a small-arms engagement. Following the injury, he remained at his position for seven days, during which only prehospital first aid was provided. On the seventh day after injury, the patient was evacuated to a temporary medical facility, where wound debridement was performed. Two hours later, he was transferred to the Northern Region Military Medical Clinical Center. The diagnosis was established as follows: isolated through-and-through gunshot wound of zone II of the neck, penetrating the pharynx, with defects of the lateral pharyngeal walls, injury to the epiglottis, and a soft tissue defect of the neck. Surgical intervention was performed and included tracheostomy, secondary surgical debridement of the anterior neck wounds, necrectomy, laryngeal exploration, and tamponade of the oropharyngo-hypopharynx. In the neck region an additional procedure was carried out consisting of a mini-laparotomy and placement of a Witzel gastrostomy to provide enteral nutrition. On the second day after admission, the patient was transferred to the next level of medical care. This clinical case illustrates an extremely rare gunshot injury of zone II of the neck with near-complete destruction of the pharynx. High-quality prehospital care provided over a seven-day period under tactical conditions prevented the development of wound infection, aspiration, and asphyxia. At the Role III level, a minimally sufficient surgical approach was deliberately chosen to preserve native tissues for subsequent reconstructive procedures which allowed to prevent patient’s life-threatening complications.

Keywords:

neck gunshot wound pharynx gunshot injury diagnosis surgical management of neck gunshot wounds

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026) , с. 272-276
УДК 616.721.2-002+613.67:617+617.57/.58-001.45-089.81

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2026-1-95-272-276