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Published on: March 28, 2025
Airway obstruction by a retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture
Hiroshi Kubota1, Hidehito Endo, Mio Noma
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyorin University, 6-20-2, Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. kub@ks.kyorin-u.ac.jp.
Background:
Retropharyngeal hematoma is a rare form of pharyngeal pathology and can present as acute airway obstruction. Among the many causes of retropharyngeal hematoma, thoracic aortic rupture is extremely rare.
Methods And Results:
A 78-year-old female with airway obstruction by a retropharyngeal hematoma secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture was successfully treated by total aortic arch replacement and open stent-graft insertion.
Conclusion:
Rupture of the thoracic aorta should be considered as a rare but important cause of retropharyngeal hematoma and airway obstruction.
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