Carotid artery penetrating trauma: Report of 4 cases and literature revision

Introduction and importance: In penetrating neck trauma, carotid artery penetrating trauma is considered one of the most complicated injuries to treat. Active bleeding, large hematomas, and rapid occlusion of the airways make the surgical approach to controlling bleeding and repairing the vessel much more complex, constituting an essential clinical challenge to every surgeon. Case presentation: We present 4 cases of patients with carotid artery penetrating trauma. Two patients were treated with endovascular therapy, one with surgery, and the fourth one treated conservatively. None of the patients had posterior neurological impairment. Clinical discussion: Carotid artery penetrating trauma is uncommon yet is associated with high rates of mortality and neurological impairment. The common carotid artery is the most frequently injured, and gunshot wounds (GSW) are the most frequent trauma mechanism. Angiotomography (CTA) is the first-line exam for diagnosing these injuries. Treatment should be prompt and individualized and may include conservative techniques, endovascular therapy, and traditional surgical repair. Conclusion: Carotid artery penetrating trauma is an uncommon but complex injury that requires a timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid potentially devastating consequences, particularly in hemodynamically unstable patients. Traditionally, the treatment strategies for these injuries used to be limited to vascular repair or ligation. However, endovascular therapy and conservative management are viable alternatives, which have become more and more useful in selected patients, allowing less invasive approaches with fewer morbidity and acceptable results.