Background: Retropharyngeal hematoma can cause suffocation if there is delay in securing the airway by intubation. However, there are also concerns about complications that can arise with intubation; it is still unknown which cases do not require intubation. Case presentation: An 88-year-old woman slipped and was found prone and was transported to the emergency room. She was alert without any stridor. Physical examination revealed a subcutaneous hematoma in the anterior cervical region. Computed tomography revealed a retropharyngeal hematoma. Angiography and computed tomography angiography showed extravasation from the right costocervical trunk. A radiologist performed trans-arterial embolization, and she had an uneventful course without intubation or developing any complication. She became ambulatory on postoperative day 5. Conclusion: Angiography and computed tomography angiography help in early recognition of extravasation in retropharyngeal hematoma, and trans-arterial embolization can help to avoid intubation and its complications.
CITATION STYLE
Sugiura, G., Takahashi, H., Kodama, Y., & Nara, S. (2021). Successful management of retropharyngeal hematoma by trans-arterial embolism without intubation. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-020-00322-9
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