Traumatic Thoracic Injury Caused by Direct Stingray’s Barb Puncture: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35790/ecl.v13i3.62159Abstract
Abstract: The majority of stingray injuries involve the lower extremities, with fatalities occurring when the thorax, abdomen, or neck are directly punctured. Complications such as septic shock, botulism, gangrene, tetanus, and delayed wound infections have all resulted in fatalities. We reported a 49-year-old patient administered to emergency department with right chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath since an hour ago. He was stabbed by a stingray's tail while diving alone around the coast of Malalayang with an unknown depth. The assessment in this patient was a right tension pneumothorax, therefore, it was decided to do needle decompression out of air. At reassessment, there were continued chest tube installation and water seal drainage (WSD). Immediate treatment consisted of primarily immobilizing the sting-affected limb, cleaning the wound to remove any remaining venom, administering analgesics to control pain, and administering tetanus vaccination. Following first aid, more precise analysis of the wound was performed, and if necessary, a deep surgical cleaning is performed to remove the sting and its fragments. In conclusion, stingray injuries are treatable with supportive care in the emergency department. However, due to the possibility of a fatal penetrating injury, penetrating torso injuries necessitate both prompt evacuation to a tertiary trauma center and prehospital support. Important factors include prolonged ED resuscitation, immediate treatment efforts, and prompt definitive surgical intervention.
Keywords: thoracic injury; stingray; puncture
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