Penetrating carotid artery: uncommon complex and lethal injuries.

Carotid arterial injuries are the most difficult and certainly the most immediately life-threatening injuries found in penetrating neck trauma. Their propensity to bleed actively and potentially occludes the airway and makes surgical intervention very challenging. Their potential for causing fatal neurological outcomes demands that trauma surgeons exercise excellent judgment in the approach to their definitive management. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnosis and management of these injuries.