Treatment of a Ballistic Wound of the Common Carotid Artery Revealed by a Spontaneous Carotid–Jugular Fistula

• Published in: Annals of vascular surgery Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 269.e9 - 269.e12
• Main Authors: Mlynski, Amélie, Mocellin, Nicolas, Imperato, Marc, Molimard, Benoît, Bordier, Emmanuel, Menguy, Paul, Baranger, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-02-2011
• Subjects: Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001; Blast Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Blast Injuries - etiology; Blast Injuries - surgery; Carotid Artery Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Injuries - etiology; Carotid Artery Injuries - surgery; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Common - surgery; Explosions; Humans; Jugular Veins - diagnostic imaging; Jugular Veins - surgery; Ligation; Male; Sternotomy; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Fistula - diagnostic imaging; Vascular Fistula - etiology; Vascular Fistula - surgery; Vascular Grafting; Vascular Surgical Procedures; Vascular System Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Vascular System Injuries - etiology; Vascular System Injuries - surgery; Veins - transplantation
• ISSN: 0890-5096; 1615-5947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2010.03.039

The case reported is of a 30-year-old patient with a left internal carotid–jugular fistula secondary to the explosion of an improvised explosive device during the Afghan war. Carotid resection with arterial bypass using a venous allograft and internal jugular ligation were performed by left cervicotomy associated with sternotomy at a specialized center. The management of cervical arteriovenous fistulas that occur as a result of penetrating trauma faced during the war must be considered and it should be noted that, on battlefields, treatment is not always performed in specialized units.