Performance of a multidisciplinar team in assisting a pediatric patient with a harpoon stuck in the oropharyngeal region

Abstract

Objective: To describe and discuss a case of penetrating trauma caused by a harpoon in a pediatric patient. Case details: A ten-year-old male patient was treated at emergency hospital with a history of a fall from standing height and acidental perforation in the oropharynxby a metal harpoon. On physical examination, the patient presented with dysphonia, dysphagia, impossibility of closing the oral cavity and severepain. The computed tomography scanshowed the presence of a foreign body close to the first cervical vertebra, withoutinvolvement of vascular structures. The surgical approach was performed by a multidisciplinar team, consisting of a general and vascular surgeon, oral and maxillo facial surgeon and a nanesthesiologist. To remove the foreign body, anincision was made in the pterygo mandibular region, divulging the soft tissues with preservation of adjacente noble structures. The post operative period was unevent ful, and the patientis being follow edupat the out patient clinic. Conclusion: The thoroug hanamnesis, the detailed physical examination, the availability of computed tomography, as well as the experience of the multidisciplinaryteam, helped in choosing the most appropriate conduct, enabling the therapeutic success of the present case.