Gunshot facial injury: a multi-disciplinary management

Abstract

Gunshot facial injury may be frightening and overwhelming. We present a case report of a male employee who was shot in the face during an armed robbery attack on a bank. He sustained severe injuries to the eyes, as well as fractures involving the orbital, maxillary and mandibular bones, with impending airway compromise. He bled profusely and was resuscitated and stabilized. Anaesthesia management included initial local anaesthesia for emergency tracheostomy and then a general anaesthetic for emergency ophthalmology and maxillofacial surgeries in a one-staged operation all on the same day lasting six hours.