Accidental strangulation in children by the automatic closing of a car window. / Estrangulamento acidental em crianças por fechamento automático de vidro de carro.

Among the main causes of death in our country are car accidents, drowning and accidental burns. Strangulation is a potentially fatal injury and an important cause of homicide and suicide among adults and adolescents. In children, its occurrence is usually accidental. However, in recent years, several cases of accidental strangulation in children around the world have been reported. A 2-year-old male patient was strangled in a car window. The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 and presented with progressive worsening of respiratory dysfunction and torpor. The patient also presented acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute pulmonary edema and shock. He was managed with protective mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs and antibiotic therapy. He was discharged from the intensive care unit without neurological or pulmonary sequelae. After 12 days of hospitalization, he was discharged from the hospital, and his state was very good. The incidence of automobile window strangulation is rare but of high morbidity and mortality due to the resulting choking mechanism. Fortunately, newer cars have devices that stop the automatic closing of the windows if resistance is encountered. However, considering the severity of complications strangulated patients experience, the intensive neuro-ventilatory and hemodynamic management of the pathologies involved is important to reduce morbidity and mortality, as is the need to implement new campaigns for the education of parents and caregivers of children, aiming to avoid easily preventable accidents and to optimize safety mechanisms in cars with electric windows.

Estrangulamento acidental em crianças por fechamento automático de vidro de carro / Accidental strangulation in children by the automatic closing of a car window

RESUMO Entre as principais causas de morte em nosso meio, situam-se acidentes automobilísticos, afogamento e queimaduras acidentais. O estrangulamento é uma injúria potencialmente fatal, além de importante causa de homicídio e suicídio em adultos e adolescentes. Em crianças, sua ocorrência é usualmente acidental. No entanto, nos últimos anos, vários casos de estrangulamento acidental em crianças ao redor do mundo têm sido reportados. Paciente masculino de 2 anos de idade foi vítima de estrangulamento em vidro do carro. Admitido na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica com Escala de Coma de Glasgow de 8, piora progressiva da disfunção respiratória e torpor. Paciente apresentou quadro de Síndrome da Angústia Respiratória Aguda, edema agudo de pulmão e choque. Foi manejado com ventilação mecânica protetora, drogas vosoativas e antibioticoterapia. Recebeu alta da unidade de terapia intensiva sem sequelas neurológicas ou pulmonares. Após 12 dias de internação, teve hospitalar alta para casa em ótimo estado. A incidência de estrangulamento por vidro de automóvel é rara, mas de alta morbimortalidade, devido ao mecanismo de asfixia ocasionado. Felizmente, os automóveis mais modernos dispõem de dispositivos que interrompem o fechamento automático dos vidros se for encontrada alguma resistência. No entanto, visto a gravidade das complicações de pacientes vítimas de estrangulamento, é significativamente relevante o manejo intensivo neuroventilatório e hemodinâmico das patologias envolvidas, para redução da morbimortalidade, assim como é necessário implementar novas campanhas para educação dos pais e cuidadores das crianças, visando evitar acidentes facilmente preveníveis e otimizar os mecanismos de segurança nos automóveis com vidros elétricos.

ABSTRACT Among the main causes of death in our country are car accidents, drowning and accidental burns. Strangulation is a potentially fatal injury and an important cause of homicide and suicide among adults and adolescents. In children, its occurrence is usually accidental. However, in recent years, several cases of accidental strangulation in children around the world have been reported. A 2-year-old male patient was strangled in a car window. The patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 and presented with progressive worsening of respiratory dysfunction and torpor. The patient also presented acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute pulmonary edema and shock. He was managed with protective mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs and antibiotic therapy. He was discharged from the intensive care unit without neurological or pulmonary sequelae. After 12 days of hospitalization, he was discharged from the hospital, and his state was very good. The incidence of automobile window strangulation is rare but of high morbidity and mortality due to the resulting choking mechanism. Fortunately, newer cars have devices that stop the automatic closing of the windows if resistance is encountered. However, considering the severity of complications strangulated patients experience, the intensive neuro-ventilatory and hemodynamic management of the pathologies involved is important to reduce morbidity and mortality, as is the need to implement new campaigns for the education of parents and caregivers of children, aiming to avoid easily preventable accidents and to optimize safety mechanisms in cars with electric windows.