[Postoperative rupture of carotid artery in head and neck neoplasms]

To explore the treatment of neoplasms in head and neck invaded the carotid artery.

Four cases with postoperative rupture of carotid artery invaded by the head and neck cancer were reviewed. The tumours were taken off from the carotid arteries and the carotid artery remained.

Rupture of carotid artery occurred in 4 patients within one week after radical neck dissection. One patient died because of its rupture again after repair. The other three survived after ligating the artery.

The carotid artery involved by tumour of head and neck should be prepared for resection before operation. If the artery was obviously invaded by the tumour, both the tumour and artery should be resected together. Once the rupture of the artery occurred after operation, the artery must be ligated instead of being repaired.