Life-threatening airway obstruction caused by a retropharyngeal haematoma

✍ Scribed by S. Senthuran; S. Lim; K. E. Gunning

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 339 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00890.x

✦ Synopsis

We present the case of a 68‐year‐old woman who had a large cervicomediastinal haematoma that caused life‐threatening airway obstruction. Retropharyngeal haematoma may occur in any age group and following a variety of causes. Retropharyngeal haematomas must be considered as a cause of airway obstruction following common injuries such as blunt cervical trauma or internal jugular vein cannulation. A high index of suspicion and early lateral neck X‐ray is essential for safe management of this rare but potentially life‐threatening injury.