A study on behavior and management of suicidal cut throat patients

Background: Suicide is one of the 10 leading causes of death in the world and cut throat injuries (CTI) are fairly common due to suicide. Aims and Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the pattern of injury, its management and associated psychiatric illness in suicidal CTI. Materials and Methods: A prospective study from August 2011 to April 2013 was carried out in the Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry at  Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. A total of 17 cases of suicidal CTI were included in the study irrespective of age and sex, who were admitted in the department of ENT. Results: Majority of the patients were young adults, 82.35% in the age group of 20-40 years. According to anatomical zone, 77% had injury in Zone 2 and 23% had Zone 1 injury. Hesitation injury involving skin and soft-tissues were seen in the neck in 71% of cases, and common morbidity following CTI is secondary wound infection (23.52%), persistent dysphagia (23.54%) and ugly scar (17.64%). Majority of patients (47.05%) were of acute and transient psychosis. Conclusion: Suicidal CTI is an important cause of cut neck injury in ENT practice. Proper surgical and psychiatric management of suicidal CTI plays an important role in the prevention of complications and resultant death due to CTI.