[hermantheshocker]

Gunshot wound to the face (young adult man). On emergency medical services arrival patient was breathing spontaneously and attempting to speak. The airway was secured in the field with orotracheal intubation.


Fig.1 Gunshot wound to the face.

Airway injury is a major cause of early death in trauma patients. Although the overall incidence of airway injury in trauma is low (<1%), the mortality due to traumatic airway injuries is high, in part because of associated trauma to other body systems, such as neurologic, thoracic, abdominal, and skeletal systems. Because airway injuries are an infrequent occurrence, it can be difficult to maintain well-developed assessment and management skills, resulting in staff being less prepared to deal with such situations.


Fig.2 Gunshot wound to the face, after tracheostomy and surgical positioning of tissue.

Vehicular trauma is the primary cause of maxillofacial trauma, followed by assault, sports injuries, falls, and civilian warfare. Maxillofacial injuries often occur in the setting of polytrauma and require a coordinated approach from multiple physician specialties, including emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, otolaryngology specialists, maxillofacial/plastic, and reconstructive surgeons, orthopedists, ophthalmologists, and neurosurgeons.


Fig.3 Male gunshot wound patient after initial surgical repair.

According to the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) handbook, the loss of an airway kills faster than the loss of the ability to breathe or hemorrhagic shock, because acute airway obstruction and respiratory arrest cause hypoxic brain injury and death. Penetrating injury may result in the loss of anatomic landmarks secondary to broken bones and teeth. Bleeding, tissue derangement and edema may make it difficult to access the airway, mask ventilate, or intubate the trachea. Patients may develop rapid airway obstruction and neurovascular compromise (Figs. 1–3).

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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[winvens]

[reading, scrolling down]

...patient was breathing spontaneously and attempting to speak

:1zhelp





How the hell did this man survive (initially)?!

[Riddla]

There is teeth where his eyes are suppose to be. He was probably trying to get someone to end him right there and the

[ride]

Originally Posted by hermantheshocker ↗

On emergency medical services arrival patient was breathing spontaneously and attempting to speak.

Likely saying, "Fuuuuuck. I can't do anything right."

[kellyhound]

2nd pic reminded me of



great post

[umakemeSICK]

My heart goes out to that poor basterd.

[Shadolife]

"difficult to maintain well-developed assessment and management skills, resulting in staff being less prepared to deal with such situations."
Less prepared? How the hell can you prepare for that...Holy Toledo

[REVZZYBAN]

He definitely made a poor choice.

[BludGeonT]

Guessing it was a self inflicted shotgun wound, under the chin but at an angle just enough to split his face wide open but missing the brain and trachea, etc. Probably why teeth are up where his eyes should be. Fucking AAAAAAA

[marcos_69]

Are you kidding? they were able to put THAT back together?