Airway management of a life-threatening post-thyroidectomy haematoma

Neck haematomas are rare but potentially life-threatening complications of thyroid surgery. Postoperative monitoring, early diagnosis and immediate management are critical, as this condition can rapidly lead to compression and obstruction of the upper airway. We present a case of a 69-year-old woman who suffered respiratory failure resulting from a post-thyroidectomy haematoma with airway obstruction and severe haemodynamic compromise, presenting a difficult anaesthetic challenge. Following development of a likely 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' situation despite haematoma evacuation, the patient underwent emergency cricothyroidotomy, before rapid sequence intubation and subsequent surgical haemostasis.