Airway obstruction secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm leak

Abstract

Retropharyngeal hematoma is a rare entity that has various etiologies. Anticoagulation is believed to be the most common cause. Aortic aneurysm leak was reported as a cause of this disease only once. We believe that our case is the second case of retropharyngeal hematoma caused by a leaking aortic aneurysm. A case discussion and management is presented in this article.

Airway obstruction by a retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture

“…The clinical features and computed tomography findings in their case were very similar to the clinical features and computed tomography findings in our case [10]. According to their report, only one case with the same symptoms caused by a cervico-mediastinal hematoma due to aortic rupture had ever been reported [11,12].…”

A Woman With Neck Swelling and Cardiac Arrest

“…In fact, airway compromise due to mass effect has been reported in patients with TAA or RPH. 4,5 Arriving at the correct diagnosis can be challenging. In the patient, the chest pain was vague and fleeting and not accompanied by ominous ECG, radiogram, or troponin levels.…”

“…Her neck swelling only became obvious during CPR because of her large body habitus, and she only experienced discernible neck ecchymosis approximately 4 hours after ROSC, which was not useful for making a time-sensitive diagnosis, despite being reported as a sentinel sign in the literature. 2,4 A portable radiogram was also not immediately available in our regional hospital; during out-of-office hours, it may take up to 1 hour from being ordered urgently to the film being taken. All we could readily access during a night shift was a hand-held ultrasound device.…”