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Carotid artery erosion in a 4-year child
Ishwar Singh1, Ravi Meher, Saket Agarwal
1Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated L. N. Hospital, New Delhi 110002, India.
Insights
Carotid blowout, a rare complication in head and neck cancer patients, can be life-threatening. This case highlights successful common carotid artery ligation in a child with a parapharyngeal abscess, preventing neurological damage.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Head and Neck Oncology
Background:
- Carotid artery erosion is a severe complication, often linked to radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, carrying a high mortality rate.
- Massive parapharyngeal space abscesses can pose a significant risk to adjacent vascular structures.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old child presented with a massive parapharyngeal space abscess.
- The abscess led to a critical condition involving the carotid artery.
Findings:
- The case involved a carotid blowout, a rare but life-threatening event in a pediatric patient.
- Surgical intervention included ligation of the common carotid artery (CCA).
Implications:
- Successful management of carotid blowout in pediatric patients is possible with prompt intervention.
- Ligation of the common carotid artery can be a life-saving procedure, avoiding neurological sequelae in selected cases.
- This case expands understanding of managing rare vascular emergencies in children with head and neck infections.
Abstract:
The carotid erosion occurs most commonly in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and is associated with high mortality. We report a case of carotid blow out in a 4-year-old child who presented with massive parapharyngeal space abscess. The common carotid artery (CCA) was ligated and child recovered without any neurological sequel.