Isolated Horner's syndrome caused by intraoral gunshot

A 45-year-old man developed Horner's syndrome after sustaining an intraoral gunshot in a suicide attempt. Examination did not show any major vascular injury or other neurological symptoms. Radiograph of the skull and helical computed tomography angiography of the brain and neck detected a bullet embedded in the interior of the left internal carotid artery (ICA) sheath. Surgical examination showed an intact left ICA. Horner's syndrome resulting from intraoral trauma rarely presents as an isolated sign and is generally associated with carotid injuries. It may herald a life-threatening artery injury and needs urgent investigation.     

Delayed pseudoaneurysm formation of the carotid artery following the oral cavity injury in a child: A case report

BACKGROUNDAn impalement injury of the oral cavity is a common traumatic injury in children. In most cases, it is not accompanied by sequelae, but if foreign body residues are not found due to a minor injury, they may result in inflammatory responses and delayed vascular injuries in the surrounding tissues. Without early diagnosis and appropriate initial management, residual foreign bodies can cause serious complications and even mortality in some cases. CASE SUMMARYA 9-year-old boy suffered an intra-oral injury by a wooden chopstick, and the patient was discharged from the hospital after receiving conservative treatment for the injury. However, the patient was readmitted to the hospital due to intra-oral bleeding, and since neck hematoma and right internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm formation were detected on computed tomography, emergency surgery was performed. A remnant fragment of a wooden chopstick was found during the operation, and a delayed rupture of the internal carotid artery caused by the foreign body was also found.CONCLUSIONThe failure of early detection and diagnosis of a residual foreign body may result in delayed vascular rupture.     

Causes and prevention of carotid artery rupture

Rupture of the carotid arteries, which provide blood supply to the head and neck, results in massive haemorrhage leading to death within a matter of minutes in 33% of cases. Those who survive are frequently left handicapped. Patients with head and neck cancer who are over 50 years of age with excessive weight loss and reduced haemoglobin, have a greater risk of carotid artery damage leading to rupture, as have those with existing nutritional deficiencies, cardiovascular or renal disease, or endocrine disorders. Prevention includes improving the nutritional status, preventing infection and constipation, promoting healing and using safe suctioning. The signs of impending rupture are few and include: retro-sternal or high epigastric pain, pulsation of the wound, ballooning of the artery and, occasionally, a small 'herald' bleed. Nurses need to be aware of 'at risk' patients, and the warning signs. All ear, nose and throat wards should document an evidence-based protocol for the management of carotid artery rupture.     

Internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm masquerading as a peritonsillar abscess

Blunt carotid arterial injuries are uncommon. Motor vehicle crashes are the most frequent cause, but this type of vascular injury can be secondary to any direct blow to the neck, intraoral trauma, or strangulation. Types of vascular injuries include dissection, pseudoaneurysm, thrombosis, rupture, and arteriovenous fistula formation. Patients with pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery will usually present with neurologic complaints, ranging from the minor to complete stroke. On physical examination, neck hematoma, bruits, pulsatile neck mass, or a palpable thrill may be found. However, in 50% of cases, no external signs of neck trauma are observed. Onset of symptoms may occur within a few hours to several months after the initial injury. Angiography is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, but carotid Doppler ultrasound recently has been shown to be very sensitive in detecting these types of injuries. Treatment of pseudoaneurysm is often surgical, with endovascular stenting.     

Ocular changes from electrical burn injuries. A literature review and report of cases.

One hundred fifty-nine consecutive patients with high-voltage burns were retrospectively reviewed to determine the ocular sequelae of these injuries. Five patients had ophthalmic changes (two had recurrent iritis, eight had cataracts, two had macular holes, and one had central retinal artery occlusion). All four patients with cataractous changes had characteristic anterior subcapsular opacifications, except for one patient who presented with a dense white opacified lens. All had bilateral lenticular changes in which the denser cataract developed earlier than the contact wound and ipsilateral to it. Central retinal artery occlusion has not been previously reported as a complication of electrical burns. Macular holes, formerly believed to be rare in these injuries, were found in two of the five patients. Ocular complications from electrical burn injuries are uncommon. Although a number of these ocular changes occur immediately after injury, many of the visually impairing changes develop days and even years after a severe electrical burn injury; thus, careful follow-up is mandated.     

Traumatic internal carotid artery dissections caused by blunt softball injuries

This report describes recently treated patients with carotid artery dissection caused by blunt softball injuries, as well as the results of a study of carotid artery trauma in a community. Data obtained through the medical records linkage system used for epidemiologic studies in Olmsted County, MN were used to identify all cases of traumatic internal carotid artery dissection diagnosed from 1987 through 1994. Four patients with traumatic internal carotid artery dissections were identified during the 8-year period under study. In two patients (50%) the carotid dissection was a result of the direct impact of a softball. A 39-year-old-man, who developed transient cerebral ischemic symptoms, and a 35-year-old woman, who developed a painful Horner's syndrome, were struck by a softball on the anterolateral aspect of the neck. Both patients had a low carotid bifurcation. These data suggest that internal carotid artery dissections may be underrecognized sequelae of direct softball injuries to the anterolateral neck. A low carotid bifurcation may be a risk factor for such injuries.     

Survival from accidental strangulation from a scarf resulting in laryngeal rupture and carotid artery stenosis: the "Isadora Duncan syndrome". A case report and review of literature

In 1929 the dancer Isadora Duncan died from strangulation and carotid artery insult when her scarf caught in the wheels of a motor vehicle in which she was travelling. As part of the Edinburgh Festival scene, cycle propelled rickshaws are in popular use as short range taxis. The case is presented of a student who sustained a laryngeal rupture from strangulation with a scarf in the same way as Isadora. Despite an out of hospital cardiorespiratory arrest, severe laryngeal trauma, and carotid artery damage resulting in hemiparesis, the patient was successfully resuscitated and recovered with no neurological deficit. It is believed that this is the first recorded survival from this condition.     

Spontaneous intercostal artery bleeding

We present a patient who complained of right flank pain resulting from spontaneous intercostal artery rupture while sleeping. He did not have symptoms or a history to suggest other diseases or trauma except hypertension. Arteriography revealed a rupture of the right 10th and 11th intercostal artery, and transcatheter arterial embolisation was successfully done. The patient was discharged without any sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the second report in the literature documenting spontaneous intercostal artery rupture without associated illness or injury. Through comparison with the first reported case, we discuss the cause, the vulnerable site, and the treatment of spontaneous intercostal bleeding.     

Penetrating injury to the oral cavity: A case report and review of the literature

Penetrating injury to the oral cavity, although rare, may cause serious morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Impalement injuries are known to cause delayed vascular injury to the internal carotid artery, leading to significant neurologic sequelae. We present an unusual case of impalement injury and make recommendations regarding the successful evaluation and management of such injuries.     

Dissection of the carotid artery as a cause of fatal airway obstruction

Carotid artery dissection is a rare entity, and most cases are attributable to causative factors, which include trauma and local malignancy. The vast majority of dissections present with cerebral infarct; those few that present with local mass effect and respiratory compromise may deteriorate rapidly, requiring urgent resuscitation and consideration of endotracheal intubation, which is often dangerous and/or impossible. The case of a spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection in an otherwise healthy young man, leading to gross mass effect and eventual fatal airway obstruction, is presented here. The need for a high index of suspicion for cervical vascular injury in cases of neck injury (even trivial), known head and neck malignancy/irradiation, or coagulopathy is highlighted. Patients presenting with unilateral neck swelling and symptoms related to mass effect must be assumed to have progressive airway obstruction, and difficult intubation should be anticipated.     

高频彩超诊断上肢高压电烧伤血管损伤的应用价值

目的:探讨高分辨率超声在诊断上肢高压电烧伤血管损伤中的应用价值。方法:15例上肢高压电烧伤患者.术前应用彩色多普勒血流图(CDFI)显示重要血管(肱、桡、尺动静脉)管壁结构和腔内回声,声像图特征与手术、病理对照。脉冲多普勒(PW)测量血流速度与对侧上肢对照。结果:高频超声显示损伤桡、尺动脉节段性狭窄和扩张,管壁增厚,内膜波浪状不平;桡、尺静脉轮廓不清。肱动脉内膜断断续续,肱静脉内径小于动脉,血栓形成。CDFI显示动脉血流中断近段血流束串珠样,收缩期峰值流速(SPV)较正常组明显减慢(P<0.001),伴行静脉血流信号消失。手术及病理证实超声诊断符合率100%。结论:高频超声可实时直观显示损伤血管内膜等细小结构改变,简便、无创、重复性好,结合血流动力学定量指标,可预测截肢高度,值得推广。     

儿童高压电击伤临床操作

儿童高压电击伤虽很少见，但其对四肢所造成的内部损伤常导致截肢。早期一系列积极的清创术可确保坏死组织的充分去除且皮瓣覆盖于创处也是必要的。二期手术很普遍，多种后遗症如肌腱断裂等应被及时预料。     

Endovascular carotid reconstruction in palliative head and neck cancer patients with threatened carotid blowout presents a beneficial supportive care measure

ABSTRACT Carotid blowout is a devastating complication in patients with head and neck malignancy. The traditional surgical treatment for carotid blowout is often technically difficult and is associated with an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Recently, endovascular therapy has been proposed for head and neck surgical patients. Preliminary reports showed a better outcome with less morbidity and mortality compared to the previous treatment modalities. The use of such techniques in cases of impending or acute carotid blowout syndrome has been previously described to be beneficial for palliative head and neck cancer patients as well. We introduce a case of a head and neck cancer patient receiving palliative care, presenting with threatened carotid blowout, who was managed with endovascular placement of a covered stent under elective conditions in order to prevent an inevitable carotid rupture. In the present case endovascular carotid stenting allowed preservation of the vessel, prevented the dramatic situation of carotid rupture, and facilitated a rapid hospital discharge without any neurologic or stenting sequelae.     

Massive hemothorax after blunt transverse cervical artery injury

Background

Blunt injuries to the thyrocervical trunk or its branches are rare because these vessels are well protected and located deep in the neck. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the first case of a massive hemothorax after blunt injury to the transverse cervical artery.

Case Report

A 42-year-old man was brought to our Emergency Department after he fell from a height of 10 meters. On work-up, a massive left hemothorax with extravasation from the left transverse cervical artery and pelvic fractures were detected. Endovascular embolization was successfully performed. There was no evidence of direct injury to the neck, lung laceration, or significant vascular injury that might have caused the massive hemothorax. A shearing mechanism associated with sudden deceleration caused by the 10-meter fall might have caused the transverse cervical artery injury in our patient.

Conclusion

Consideration of injury to the thyrocervical trunk or its branches by the emergency physician will result in more frequent consideration and more timely diagnosis when there is no chest injury and massive hemothorax.     

Raeder's Paratrigeminal Syndrome Due to Spontaneous Dissection of the Cervical and Petrous Internal Carotid Artery

The combination of pain, ipsilateral oculosympathetic defect (ptosis and miosis), and ipsilateraltrigeminal dysfunction constitutes Raeder's syndrome. We describe a patient with an acute presentation of Raeder's syndrome due to spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection. True trigeminal dysfunction due to carotid dissection is rare, and the potential mechanisms for its involvement are reviewed in this paper. Finally, we remind clinicians to consider dissection in the differential diagnosis of Raeder's syndrome because of its potential for ischemic cerebral neurologic sequelae and suggest early cranial and neck imaging in the evaluation of such patients.     

Headache as a manifestation of a life-threatening vascular disorder

Headache is a common complaint among patients seeking medical assistance. The differentiation between a primary headache disorder versus headache as a symptom of a serious underlying disease is of crucial importance. Dissections of the carotid or vertebral arteries frequently present with headache and can result in ischemic stroke. Rarely, headache or neck pain is a presenting symptom in patients with spontaneous proximal aortic dissection. We report on a 53-year-old man with a history of migraine with aura, who was admitted to the hospital because of severe frontal headache and neck pain. An anterior chest pain lasting for 10 minutes the day before and a diastolic heart murmur suggested a proximal aortic dissection, which was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Patients with proximal aortic dissection rarely have headache or neck pain, reflecting the low incidence of carotid artery involvement in this disease. However, differentiation between an isolated cervical artery dissection and a proximal aortic dissection extending to the carotid arteries is pivotal, since treatment options are vastly different.     

Early-onset unilateral electric cataract: a rare clinical entity

Electrical injury may result in cataracts, which usually occur bilaterally. In this report, we present a rare complication of such an injury presenting as a unilateral cataract in a 33-year-old woman with a painless but gradual worsening of vision in her left eye 3 weeks after sustaining a high-voltage electrical injury. A cataract did not develop in the right eye during 26 months of follow-up. The patient underwent successful cataract surgery with an excellent return of vision. Electrical injuries may result in the formation of a unilateral cataract and therefore an ophthalmic examination should be performed regularly in the early recovery period of such injuries. Cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation results in an excellent return of vision in patients with electrical cataract who do not have any other ocular damage.     

Blunt trauma to the carotid arteries

Carotid artery dissection is a rare occurrence in the trauma patient. Two cases of blunt trauma resulting in carotid artery dissection are reported. Initial recognition by clinicians is often difficult because of the diverse clinical manifestations, the delay in presentation, and the associated multi-organ system injuries that accompany carotid artery dissection. Because the diagnosis of carotid injury is rarely suspected in patients with neurological deficits, the first diagnostic test performed is usually computed tomography (CT) of the head. Angiography should be strongly considered when the following occur: (a) Neurologic deficits are incompatible with CT findings; (b) there is monoparesis or hemiparesis with a normal mental status examination; (c) there is severe cervical trauma with an abnormal neurological exam; or (d) a basilar skull fracture is present in a patient with an abnormal mental status exam. Once diagnosed, the management of carotid artery dissection is complex and no generalized guidelines have been established.     

超声在5·12汶川特大地震伤员中的应用价值

目的 阐述超声影像技术在特大地震伤员的诊断分型和并发症预防及治疗方面的应用价值.方法 将超声会诊的743例地震伤员分为四类,即胸腔伤、腹腔伤、四肢血管伤和挤压伤,按入院时间分为两个阶段并对资料进行分析.结果 743例伤员中,有218例出现超声影像学异常,阳性率为29.3%.按损伤类型发病率由高到低排序,第一阶段依次为挤压伤类血肿＞胸腔积液(血)＞脾破裂＞肝破裂＞四肢血管损伤＞肾损伤＞肠管破裂及挤压综合征伴肾功能衰竭,第二阶段挤压伤类血肿＞胸腔积液(血)＞四肢血管损伤＞挤压综合征伴肾功能衰竭＞脾破裂＞肾损伤＞肝破裂.结论 地震常造成全身多器官损伤;超声在分析地震伤方面起着非常重要的作用.     

Acute compartment syndrome after rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle

Rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle is an uncommon injury, with most cases occurring in athletically active individuals. The presentation of a gastrocnemius rupture is the acute onset of calf pain and subsequent ecchymosis. Most of these injuries can be treated symptomatically with good results. We present an unusual case of gastrocnemius muscle tear complicated by acute compartment syndrome. Physicians need to be aware of this potentially devastating complication of gastrocnemius rupture.