Through and through carotid artery injury from a fish bone

Bathma Dhevi SUSIBALAN ^{1, 2}, Zulkifli YUSOF ¹, Masaany MANSOR ¹,  Mohd Ayzam AHMAD ¹, Irfan MOHAMAD ²

 ¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah, and ² Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medical  Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Ingested foreign bodies are one of the most commonly seen otorhinolaryngology emergencies. A un

common complication is the migration from the oro-digestive tract. Presentation varies and depends on the types of foreign body and routes of migration. Reported presentations include thyroid lumps or abscess, unassuming skin granulations, and a discharging sinus. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose this condition early. An initial positive neck radiograph for foreign body followed by negative

oesophagoscopy is highly suggestive of migrations. We report the case of a migrated fish bone confirmed on radiological imaging and was found on surgical exploration to have pierced the common carotid artery through and through. This was successfully removed without any further complications.

Keywords: Common carotid artery, foreign body, migration, complications

Correspondence author: Irfan MOHAMAD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Tel: 609-7676420 E mail: irfankb@usm.my

Brunei Int Med J. 2015; 11 (3): 167-170