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Case Reports
. 2009 Oct 7:17:50.
doi: 10.1186/1757-7241-17-50.

Management of a massive thoracoabdominal impalement: a case report

Chhavi Sawhney  1 , Nita D'souza, Biplab Mishra, Babita Gupta, Subir Das
Affiliations
Case Reports

Management of a massive thoracoabdominal impalement: a case report

Chhavi Sawhney et al. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. .

Abstract

A 26 year old male was impaled through his chest and upper abdomen with an iron angle, one and half meter long and five centimeters thick. The iron angle entered the chest, through the epigastrium and exited posteriorly just inferior to the angle of left scapula. The patient was transported to hospital with the iron angle in situ. Positioning the patient for intubation proved a major challenge. An unconventional position for intubation allowed a successful airway management. Paucity of time prevented us from gauging the nature and extent of injury. The challenges posed by massive impalement could be successfully managed due to rapid pre-hospital transfer and co-ordinated team effort.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Position of the patient and the anesthetist during intubation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Patient with the impaled iron angle supported by helpers in the operating room.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Post intubation patient given right lateral position for surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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