Retropharyngeal Hematoma Secondary to Minor Blunt Trauma Neck: A Rare Case Report
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction
Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma is rare, but can be lethal, if not identified and managed promptly. It isclinically important because of the close proximity of the retropharyngeal space to the upper airway.
Case report
A case of upper airway obstruction in a 75 year old man due to a large retropharyngeal hematoma following minor injury to neckis presented.Progressive dysphagia, hoarseness and dyspnoea developed over time. Emergency tracheostomy and subsequent surgical drainage was performed.
Conclusion
Retropharyngeal hematoma is a rare but potentially lethal problem that can be faced in an emergency department. Clinicians should be alert to the potential occurrence of this cause of acute or delayed airway collapse. Thus, an awareness of the possibility of airway obstruction secondary to massive hematoma formation after an asymptomatic interval is needed.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
Duvillard C, Ballester M, Romanet P. Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma: A rare and critical pathology needed for early diagnosis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2005; 262:713-5.
Gotlib T. Retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to neck trauma-case report. Otolaryngol Pol. 2008; 62(6):800-2. Polish
Daniello NJ, Goldstein SI. Retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to minor blunt head and neck trauma. Ear Nose Throat J. 1994; 73(1):41-3.
Lin JY, Wang CH, Huang TW. Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma: case report. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2007; 34(3):423-
Mackenzie JW, Jellicoe JA. Acute upper airway obstruction. Spontaneous retropharyngeal hematoma in a patient with polycythaemia rubra vera. Anaesthesia. 1986; 41:57-60
Owens DE, Calcatessa TC, Aarstad RA. Retropharyngeal hematoma. A complication of therapy with anticoagulants. Arch Otolaryngol. 1975; 101:565-68.
Shiratori T, Hara K, Ando N. Acute airway obstruction secondary to retropharyngeal hematoma. J Anesth. 2003; 17:46-8.
Penning L. Pre-vertebral hematoma in cervical spine injury: incidence and etiologic significance. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1981; 136:553-61.
Tsai KJ, Huang YC. Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma: case report. J Trauma. 1999; 6:715–6.
Van Velde R, Sars PR, Olsman JG, Van De Hoeven H. Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma treated by embolization of the thyro-cervical trunk. Eur J Emerg Med. 2002; 9:159-61.
Senthuran S, Lim S, Gunning KE. Life-threatening airway obstruction caused by a retropharyngeal haematoma. Anaesthesia. 1999; 54:674-8.
Morita S, Iizuka S, Hirakawa H, Higami S, Yamagiwa T, Inokuchi S. A 92-year-old man with retropharyngeal hematoma caused by an injury of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Chin J Traumatol. 2010; 13(2):120-2.
Shaw CB, Bawa R, Snider G, Wax MK. Traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma: a case report. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995; 113(4):485-8.
Iizuka S, Morita S, Otsuka H, Yamagiwa T, Yamamoto R, Aoki H, Fukushima T, Inokuchi S. Sudden asphyxia caused by retropharyngeal hematoma after blunt thyrocervical artery injury. J Emerg Med. 2012; 43(3):451-6.