Ligation of injured subclavian vessels saved a young life: case report

We describe a rare life-saving case of penetrating subclavian vessel injury that was managed successfully at King Saud Medical City, a major trauma center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The patient was a healthy 21-year-old Saudi male who was presented initially at Al-Aflaj Hospital, 300 km away from King Saud Medical City, following a stab with a knife to the left side of his lower neck. He was transferred to King Saud Medical City for definitive surgical management after having temporary bleeding control at Al-Aflaj Hospital. The patient was successfully managed with a median sternotomy, left supraclavicular extension, and clavicular division. Hemostasis was achieved by ligating the injured subclavian vessels in a situation of extremes to save a life. His postoperative course was uneventful. He was discharged on the eleventh postoperative day with an intact neurovascular condition of the left upper limb.